Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed Tomography
Abstract Background Seed–soil contact is important to ensure successful germination, however, there is a paucity of reported studies that have quantified the microstructure at and around this critical interface, mainly due to the opacity of soil. Results Here we describe a novel methodology to non-d...
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doaj-a54ef3e6c2504775bb8ecfd245f8130a2020-11-24T21:04:43ZengBMCPlant Methods1746-48112017-08-0113111410.1186/s13007-017-0220-4Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed TomographySebastian Blunk0Ali Hafeez Malik1Martine I. de Heer2Tobias Ekblad3Jennifer Bussell4Debbie Sparkes5Kenneth Fredlund6Craig J. Sturrock7Sacha J. Mooney8Division of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, The University of NottinghamSyngenta Seeds ABSyngenta Crop ProtectionSyngenta Seeds ABDivision of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, The University of NottinghamDivision of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, The University of NottinghamSyngenta Seeds ABDivision of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, The University of NottinghamDivision of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, The University of NottinghamAbstract Background Seed–soil contact is important to ensure successful germination, however, there is a paucity of reported studies that have quantified the microstructure at and around this critical interface, mainly due to the opacity of soil. Results Here we describe a novel methodology to non-destructively calculate the seed–soil contact area using X-ray Computed Tomography. Under controlled conditions, we observed that seed–soil contact was strongly influenced by the size and type of seed, with a seed–soil contact of ca. 15% for naked sugar beet seeds compared to ca. 32% for pelleted and coated seeds. Similar results were obtained for seeds sampled from the field albeit with a higher spatial variability. Conclusions By application of this new quantification method it is hoped seed enhancement technologies can be optimised and ultimately seedbed preparation improved to ensure better germination.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13007-017-0220-4Sugar beetGerminationSeedsSeed–soil contactX-ray Computed Tomography |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sebastian Blunk Ali Hafeez Malik Martine I. de Heer Tobias Ekblad Jennifer Bussell Debbie Sparkes Kenneth Fredlund Craig J. Sturrock Sacha J. Mooney |
spellingShingle |
Sebastian Blunk Ali Hafeez Malik Martine I. de Heer Tobias Ekblad Jennifer Bussell Debbie Sparkes Kenneth Fredlund Craig J. Sturrock Sacha J. Mooney Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed Tomography Plant Methods Sugar beet Germination Seeds Seed–soil contact X-ray Computed Tomography |
author_facet |
Sebastian Blunk Ali Hafeez Malik Martine I. de Heer Tobias Ekblad Jennifer Bussell Debbie Sparkes Kenneth Fredlund Craig J. Sturrock Sacha J. Mooney |
author_sort |
Sebastian Blunk |
title |
Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed Tomography |
title_short |
Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed Tomography |
title_full |
Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed Tomography |
title_fullStr |
Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed Tomography |
title_full_unstemmed |
Quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) using X-ray Computed Tomography |
title_sort |
quantification of seed–soil contact of sugar beet (beta vulgaris) using x-ray computed tomography |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Plant Methods |
issn |
1746-4811 |
publishDate |
2017-08-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Seed–soil contact is important to ensure successful germination, however, there is a paucity of reported studies that have quantified the microstructure at and around this critical interface, mainly due to the opacity of soil. Results Here we describe a novel methodology to non-destructively calculate the seed–soil contact area using X-ray Computed Tomography. Under controlled conditions, we observed that seed–soil contact was strongly influenced by the size and type of seed, with a seed–soil contact of ca. 15% for naked sugar beet seeds compared to ca. 32% for pelleted and coated seeds. Similar results were obtained for seeds sampled from the field albeit with a higher spatial variability. Conclusions By application of this new quantification method it is hoped seed enhancement technologies can be optimised and ultimately seedbed preparation improved to ensure better germination. |
topic |
Sugar beet Germination Seeds Seed–soil contact X-ray Computed Tomography |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13007-017-0220-4 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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1716770026493575168 |