Study of Wheat Grain Structure by Digital Radiography

Abstract

Introduction. Analysis of the quality of wheat grain using instrumental methods is an important task due to the permanent growth in annual wheat production and export. Digital radiography is a promising method for studying the internal structure of wheat grain. Along with other methods, digital radiography allows non-destructive testing and comprehensive description of grain parameters.Aim. To determine the capabilities of digital radiography for studying the structure of wheat grain.Materials and methods. Digital X-ray images were obtained using a multifunctional mobile x-ray diagnostic unit produced by JSC "ELTECH-Med" was used with the installation tube voltage of 9 kV. Durum wheat grain samples of different varieties were used. Operations for processing grain images were automated using the scripts developed in Python using the numpy and opencv libraries.Results. The attenuation of X-ray radiation by grain material was studied. Wheat bran was found to exhibit a greater attenuation coefficient than the endosperm, assumably due to the higher concentration of potassium and phosphorus in the wheat outer layer. The calculated ratio of the attenuation coefficients of the bran to the endosperm was 1.27, compared to the experimentally obtained value of 1.36. The influence of the geometric shape of wheat grain on the formation of its X-ray image was determined. A method for describing the geometric shape of wheat grain using second-order curves was presented. A mathematical model for the transmission of X-ray radiation in wheat grain was constructed, taking into account its complex shape and the heterogeneous distribution of macroelements therein. This model allows estimation of the attenuation coefficients of the grain endosperm and outer layer using a non-destructive method.Conclusion. Digital radiography is an effective method for studying wheat when carrying out research and breeding tasks. The proposed model for the transmission of X-ray radiation in wheat grain can be used to numerically determine some indicators of grain quality.