METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF A SEED LOT BY DETERMINING THE VIGOR RATING OF A PLUG FLAT OF SEEDLINGS USING IMAGE ANALYSIS

摘要

This invention involves a method for assessing the qualityof a seed lot by determining the vigor rating of a plug flat ofseedlings. The vigor rating can be determined withoutcontrolling the conditions under which the seedlings are grown.The seedlings can be grown under optimum, greenhouse, commercialor outdoor growing conditions.Image analysis equipment is employed to determine the vigorrating. The image analysis equipment is used to measure thesurface area of the leaves of the seedlings, calculate thestandard deviation of the leaves and to calculate thegermination percentage of the seedlings. The image analysisequipment can also be used to calculate the vigor rating or thevigor rating can be determined by hand via mathematicalcalculation.