Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seeds exhibit heterogeneity due to the characteristic flowering and pollination process of this species. Consequently, the necessity for research geared toward establishing effective methodologies for identifying seeds capable of germinating and with potential for producing vigorous seedlings becomes apparent. This study was undertaken with the aim of assessing the relationship between internal morphology, as evaluated through radiographic image analysis, and the germination performance of sweet basil seeds. Radiographs of seeds from eight lots of the cultivar Alfavaca Basilicão were examined. The length of seedling originated from radiographed seeds was obtained through computerized image analysis using SVIS® software and the results were compared with the radiographic images. Radiographs allowed visualization of the internal morphology of sweet basil seeds, enabling the identification of empty seeds, malformed seeds, seeds with tissue deterioration and mechanical damage. The analysis of radiographic images substantially contributed to establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between the physical integrity of tissues and the germination performance of the seeds, underscoring the potential for selecting seeds that will contribute to enhanced lot quality.

The short cultivation cycle and high essential oil content of basil plants render them a valuable raw material source for diverse industries. However, large-scale production is hindered by the lack of specific protocols to assess seed vigor; thus, a consistent supply of high-quality seeds that meet consumer demands cannot be ensured. This study investigated the effectiveness of an automated system for seedling analysis as a tool for evaluating basil seed vigor and compared it to traditional tests. For this purpose, seeds from eight commercial lots were evaluated in two separate trials spaced six months apart using the following tests: germination, first germination count, saturated salt accelerated aging, primary root emergence, mean germination time, seedling emergence, seedling emergence speed index, and computerized seedling image analysis. The parameters provided by the system allowed us to clearly and objectively classify the basil seed lots based on vigor, and the results were strongly and significantly correlated with the findings of traditional vigor tests, particularly between the vigor index and seedling length. Digital analysis of four-day-old seedlings proved to be a fast and efficient technique for evaluating basil seed vigor and has the potential for use in automating the data collection and analysis process.

Licania tomentosa is a widely distributed species in Brazil, commonly used in urban landscaping and environmental restoration. Despite its potential, understanding the relationship between fruit maturation and seedling quality remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between maturation stages - classified by epicarp coloration - and seedling performance through RGB colorimetric analysis, fruit morphometry, and the application of machine learning algorithms. Fruits were collected from mother trees and classified into four color stages based on the Munsell color chart. Digital images were analyzed to extract RGB values and morphometric parameters of the fruits using ImageJ® software. Subsequently, seedling emergence, biometric attributes, biomass accumulation, and the Dickson Quality Index (DQI) were evaluated. Yellow-Red fruits produced seedlings with higher emergence rates, greater shoot and root biomass accumulation, and higher DQI values, indicating greater seedling vigor. In contrast, Greenish Green-Yellow fruits resulted in less vigorous seedlings. The Red band was the main indicator of changes in the fruits. Morphometric parameters alone were insufficient to discriminate the maturation stages. Linear Discriminant Analysis correctly classified 90.48 % of the fruits according to their maturation stage. The integration of colorimetric data with machine learning proved to be an effective, non-destructive, and low-cost approach for optimizing seed selection. To enhance the predictive accuracy of the model it is recommended to expand the dataset under natural conditions and explore alternative color systems and complementary fruit traits.

Ocorrência de microrganismos e sua relação com a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de alface / Occurrence of microorganisms and their relationship with physiological quality of lettuce seeds

Despite the economic and social significance of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), the national yield remains limited, partly due to crop establishment issues related to low seed quality. This study aimed to evaluate the seed quality of the TAA Dama cultivar (type III, with indeterminate growth habit) harvested using manual, semi-mechanized and mechanized methods. The seed quality was assessed using germination, accelerated aging, seedling emergence, electrical conductivity, computerized seedling image analysis, sodium hypochlorite (mechanical damage) and X-ray test. The semi-mechanized and mechanized harvest methods proved suitable for seeds from plants with indeterminate growth habit, provided that harvest parameters are properly adjusted. However, the presence of hard seeds, particularly in the manually-harvested lot, negatively affected the germination speed and seedling development. The radiographic imaging was effective in detecting internal seed damage, complementing the conventional quality assessments.