Non-Destructive Method for Evaluating Viability of Watermelon and Tomato Seeds Using Radiographic Imaging
Abstract
Conventional germination testing is the reference method for determining seed viability, but it is time-consuming and requires test samples. This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of industrial radiographic imaging as a non-destructive technique for identifying the internal structural condition of watermelon and tomato seeds and predicting their viability. A total of 608 seedless watermelon seeds and 700 tomato seeds were individually tagged, radiographically imaged, visually graded for embryo and endosperm integrity, and then subjected to standard germination tests for validation. Watermelon seeds were categorized into five radiographic grades based on the completeness of the embryo/endosperm, and tomato seeds were classified according to the presence of a complete internal cochlear-like structure. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated for the radiographic classification and evaluated with a seed-by-seed confusion matrix. Radiographic imaging showed promising performance in detecting germinable seeds in both watermelon and tomato, with high sensitivity and an overall accuracy of about 92%. These results show that radiographic imaging is a promising non-destructive screening method, in particular for larger seeds with clearly visible internal structures. However, it must be seen as a rapid screening method for complementary purposes and not as a complete substitute for the standard germination test. Additional work should include quantification of image analysis, testing for agreement between evaluators, and automatic classification to increase robustness.
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