Vision system helps monitor germination of seeds

Researchers at GEVES (Beaucouzé, France) have developed a machine vision system for monitoring the germination of seeds from a dry state to young seedlings.

The seeds themselves are placed on trays on Jacobson germination tables where they are watered and illuminated under controlled temperature conditions. Four calibrated PL-A662 1.3MPixel cameras from Pixelink (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) placed above the tables capture images of up to 400 seeds each during the germination process.

The images of the seeds are processed with ImageJ software, an image processing program widely used for scientific research. The software first separates the images of the seeds from the background, and then measures key parameters of each of the seeds such as initial seed mass, imbibition, germination and embryonic axis elongation, after which the data is analyzed using Excel software.

The researchers believe that the system will contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms which lead to the establishment of vigorous crops.

A complete technical article describing the system is available here.

-- by Dave Wilson, Senior Editor, Vision Systems Design