Studies on the imbibition of triticale kernels with a different degree of sprouting, using digital shape analysis

Abstract

The imbibition of triticale kernels with a different degree of sprouting and with no visible sprouting symptoms was studied using digital image analysis and the classical weight method. Measurements were performed at two-hour intervals for the first 14 hours of imbibition, and at 24 and 26 hours. The area, perimeter, length and width of kernel images, and ten different shape factors were determined along with the weight of imbibing kernels. The germination capacity was determined on the seeds used for measurements. Kernels showing the lowest degree of sprouting were characterized by the highest rate of water uptake in comparison with the control. Most of shape descriptors were significantly correlated with kernel weight, especially image area (r = 0.688) and two shape factors (calculated on the basis of image perimeter and area) of S₉ and S₁₀ (r = 0.742 and 0.958, respectively), which makes them the best descriptors of image of imbibing seeds.