Abstract
The gas-discharge visualization (GDV, electrophotography) method allows recording and quantifying the glow that occurs near the surface of the object (seed), when placing it in an electromagnetic field of high intensity. The hidden defects – emptiness of Pinus sibirica Du Tour seeds and biogenic damage (by phytopathogenic bacteria Pantoea ananatis) of Zea mays L. seeds were revealed and analyzed by the method of gas discharge visualization in combination with automatic analysis of digital gas-discharge images. It is shown that empty seeds have reduced values of the averaged intensity of digital gas discharge images. According to the data obtained, the methods of gas-discharge imaging (electrophotography) and microfocus radiography showed high efficiency (> 90%) of accuracy in the detection of empty seeds of Pinus sibirica. It was found that the sample of Zea mays seeds (hybrid Krasnodarskiy 194 MV) was characterized by reduced values of the average intensity of gas-discharge images, as well as the average brightness of digital X-ray images, compared with the other three seed samples. The seed sample of hybrid Krasnodarskiy 194 MB was characterized by the worst sowing qualities: emergence rate, germination, root length and shoot length. It was shown that the Krasnodarskiy 194 MB seeds were affected by phytopathogenic bacteria Pantoea ananatis. The average inverse correlations of a number of characteristics of gas-discharge glow (area, total intensity) with the standard deviation of brightness of digital X-ray images, as well as weak reliable correlation of most gas-discharge characteristics with seeding qualities were found. Comparative assessment of gas discharge indices and seedlings germination as integral indices for evaluation of biological completeness of Zea mays seeds was carried out. Research has confirmed that the method of gas discharge visualization in combination with automatic analysis of digital gas-discharge images can be used as an effective additional tool for rapid detection of defective seeds.