Análise de imagens de sementes e plântulas de carnaúba para avaliação de vigor

Abstract

The carnauba [Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H. E. Moore] is a rustic species, endemic to the Caatinga biome and its seeds may present diverse morphological and physiological characteristics. The techniques of seed analysis by images stand out for being to minimize the subjectivity of the analyst providing a fast and reliable result. Among these techniques, the X-ray test stands out, as it allows the evaluation of the internal morphology and to identify characteristics related to the physiological potential of seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological characteristics of the seeds of Copernicia prunifera and to relate them to the performance of the seedlings by means of image analysis techniques. For this, carnauba fruits were collected and seeds were extracted and identified for the X-ray test, and later analyzed in ImageJ® software (Image Processing and Analysis in Java) and the following variables were obtained: Optical density; Circularity; Aspect Elliptic; Area (mm2); Length and Width of seeds (mm). The seeds were separated into classes according to optical density. Soon after, the emergency test was carried out and later test of seedling image analysis at 30 days after sowing and test of seedling image analysis at 60 days after sowing. The seedlings images were processed in the ImageJ® software and the following variables were collected: Protrusion of the cotyledonary petiole (PPC 60); Emergency at 60 days (%); Length of cotyledonary petiole at 30 days (cm); Length of root system at 60 days (cm); Length of shoot at 60 days (cm) and Total length of seedlings (cm). The morphological characteristics of carnauba seeds can be analyzed by means of efficient image analysis. Seed shape and size characteristics are related to their density. Seedling performance is not related to the morphological characteristics of the seeds.