Detection and Estimation of Internal Pest Infestation in Seeds by the Application of X‐ray Techniques

摘要

AbstractIn quarantine inspection it is particularly important to use reliable and rapid testing methods for revealing internal infestation of seeds. Generally, it is impossible to diagnose correctly hidden infestation, at a low level, by means of traditional inspection test methods. The X‐ray technique, however, has considerable merit in the rapid and objective detection of insects living inside seeds. This radiographic process, most appropriate to quarantine practice, is presented. Optimal exposures were determined for seeds of 46 plant species. The reliability of radiographic counts of infestation was controlled by a model‐experiment, in which a very high correlation (r =−0.986) was found between the rate of infestation in the samples and the number of seeds to be tested from the sample. On a certain level by the regression equation (y = 7691–2468 log. x) it is possible to determine the number of seeds which have to be tested in order to obtain the real value of infe