Phenotypic data of soybean germination image

Citation Author(s):
Ru
Han
Nanjing Agricultural University
Lei
Shu
Nanjing Agricultural University
Menghan
Yin
Nanjing Agricultural University
Der-Jiunn
Deng
National Changhua University of Education
Kailiang
Li
Nanjing Agricultural University
Jin
Zhang
China Telecom Hongxin Infomation Technology Company
Xuefang
Yi
Nanjing Agricultural University
Submitted by:
Ru Han
Last updated:
Wed, 05/31/2023 - 07:07
DOI:
10.21227/8w30-e691
License:
0
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Abstract 

Seed quality has become increasingly important in seed management and operation. Seed germination testing is one of the crucial methods for seed quality assessment, as the development quality of seeds, including germination rate and growth speed of seedlings, is an important indicator of seed quality. The germination rate of soybeans is one of the criteria for identifying high-quality soybeans. By measuring phenotypic changes during the germination process of soybeans, such as the onset of germination and root length, the vitality of soybeans can be determined, thus selecting high-quality soybeans. Therefore, accurate determination of soybean seed germination rate, seedling length, and morphological features can achieve the goal of evaluating soybean seed quality.

Traditional methods of measuring germination rate and phenotypic changes rely heavily on manual observations, measurements, and data recording, which are tedious, time-consuming, subjective, and prone to low measurement accuracy and poor repeatability. The collection of phenotypic data requires significant human and material resources, resulting in high time costs, and the obtained data is often limited. Due to the inaccurate measurement of seedling length, quantitative judgments on growth speed and integrity are not possible, leading to qualitative assessments only. These unfavorable characteristics limit the widespread application and standardization of soybean seed quality determination. Therefore, there is a need for an objective, fast, repeatable, low-cost, and reliable method of measurement.

Instructions: 

In this experiment, the soybean seed batch used was NJ47, which belongs to small-seeded varieties. Therefore, a room temperature of 25°C was chosen for the experiment. Due to laboratory material limitations, sterilized three-layer absorbent sponges were used instead of sand beds, with a thickness of approximately 1.5cm

The experimental platform consists mainly of a camera, a slider, a chip, and two trays. The camera model is Kingcent KS12A884, with a resolution of 12 megapixels and a maximum resolution of 3840×2880/20pfs. The camera's image sensor is the Sony IMX377. The chip contains well-developed code that can control the camera to move on the slider at regular intervals and automatically capture images of the trays.

A small-scale experimental platform for phenotypic monitoring is set up with a fixed camera, slider, and two trays. The equipment, including the chip, is connected to the platform. The platform is programmed to automatically capture soybean germination images at specified intervals. During the preparation period, two fixed points are set on the slider. The trays are placed directly beneath the fixed points, and the camera is programmed to move on the slider every 1 hour. It stops at each fixed point for 3 seconds to capture real-time images. The captured soybean germination images are stored in the chip and can be transferred to a computer through the network for subsequent processing and analysis.