Spectrophotometrical pod colour measurement: a non-destructive method for monitoring seed drying?

2005 ◽  
Vol 143 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 183-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. COSTE ◽  
M. P. RAVENEAU ◽  
Y. CROZAT

A non-destructive indicator of seed water content could significantly help crop scientists with assessment of the effects of environmental conditions during drying on grain qualities or on seed physiological quality. This is particularly important for grain legumes which simultaneously bear pods of different ages. Visual assessment of pod colour has so far been used to date grain legume stages, but now colour can be easily and accurately measured with a portable spectrophotometer. Relationships between the spectrophotometer measurements and the pod and seed water contents were tested in various climatic contexts (3 years: 2000, 2001, 2002; field or greenhouse, two or three sowing dates) for two bean cultivars (Booster and Calypso) and also for one pea cultivar (Baccara) in 2003 near Angers, France. Among the different spectrophotometer measurements, hue angle (h) clearly shows the transition from green (h=180 °) to yellow (h=90 °) and then to red (h=0 °). In each context, h and seed water content (SWC) relationships showed the same pattern of three linear phases: first a steady state; then a sharp decrease from green (h=106–108 °) to yellow (h=85–93 °) just before the end of the seed filling stage for Booster or between the end of the seed filling phase and the beginning of seed drying for Calypso and pea; finally, a slow decrease from yellow to ochre (h=75–78 °) during seed drying. For each bean cultivar, the parameters of the linear relationships showed no differences between maturation conditions. Therefore, 6 h classes matching six SWC classes could be defined over a wide range of SWC between 0·56 and 0·2 g/g for Booster. However for Calypso and pea, only 3 h classes could be defined because of the tight relationships between h and SWC during the end of seed drying, which can be explained by pod walls drying faster than seeds. Hence, spectrophotometer measurements, if calibrated for a given cultivar of a species, could now be used to select pods with seeds of the same water content and therefore to study environmental effects on quality criteria either in controlled conditions or in the field.

2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew I. Daws ◽  
Christiane S. Gaméné ◽  
Sheila M. Glidewell ◽  
Hugh W. Pritchard

For recalcitrant seeds, mortality curves of germination versus water content typically imply a wide range of desiccation sensitivities within a seed population. However, seed to seed differences in water content, during desiccation, may confound our interpretation of these mortality plots. Here, we illustrate this problem for two batches ofVitellaria paradoxa(Sapotaceae) seeds collected in 1996 and 2002. Whole seeds were desiccated to various target water contents (TWCs) using silica gel. During desiccation, smaller seeds in the population dried most rapidly. Consequently, there was a significant linear relationship between whole-seed water content and seed mass during the drying process. In addition, following desiccation to low TWCs, only the largest seeds in the population retained viability. Taken together, this suggests that the larger seeds survived, not as a consequence of great relative desiccation tolerance, but as a result of taking longer to desiccate. Subsequently, the critical water content (CWC) for viability loss was calculated, based on the assumptions that in the seed population whole-seed water content during desiccation was normally distributed and the smallest, and hence driest, seeds were killed first. Using this approach, the driest seeds in the population that were killed, at each TWC, were always below a single CWC (c. 20% and 26% in 1996 and 2002, respectively). In subsequent experiments the effect of seed size variation on the response to desiccation was confirmed by conducting desiccation screens on seeds sorted into two discrete size classes, i.e. the seed-lot heterogeneity in mass was reduced. Using this approach, the mortality curves had a steeper slope. Furthermore, data for 24 tropical tree species from the Database of Tropical Tree Seed Research (DABATTS) revealed that seed lots with less variability in mass had steeper mortality curves. Thus, taken together, the data suggest that, at least for whole seeds, the wide range of desiccation sensitivities typically inferred is an artefact of seed to seed variation in mass, and hence water contents, during drying.


Author(s):  
J W Steeds

There is a wide range of experimental results related to dislocations in diamond, group IV, II-VI, III-V semiconducting compounds, but few of these come from isolated, well-characterized individual dislocations. We are here concerned with only those results obtained in a transmission electron microscope so that the dislocations responsible were individually imaged. The luminescence properties of the dislocations were studied by cathodoluminescence performed at low temperatures (~30K) achieved by liquid helium cooling. Both spectra and monochromatic cathodoluminescence images have been obtained, in some cases as a function of temperature.There are two aspects of this work. One is mainly of technological significance. By understanding the luminescence properties of dislocations in epitaxial structures, future non-destructive evaluation will be enhanced. The second aim is to arrive at a good detailed understanding of the basic physics associated with carrier recombination near dislocations as revealed by local luminescence properties.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1786
Author(s):  
Carla Queirós ◽  
Chen Sun ◽  
Ana M. G. Silva ◽  
Baltazar de Castro ◽  
Juan Cabanillas-Gonzalez ◽  
...  

The development of straightforward reproducible methods for the preparation of new photoluminescent coordination polymers (CPs) is an important goal in luminescence and chemical sensing fields. Isophthalic acid derivatives have been reported for a wide range of applications, and in addition to their relatively low cost, have encouraged its use in the preparation of novel lanthanide-based coordination polymers (LnCPs). Considering that the photoluminescent properties of these CPs are highly dependent on the existence of water molecules in the crystal structure, our research efforts are now focused on the preparation of CP with the lowest water content possible, while considering a green chemistry approach. One- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) LnCPs were prepared from 5-aminoisophthalic acid and Sm3+/Tb3+ using hydrothermal and/or microwave-assisted synthesis. The unprecedented LnCPs were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCRXD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their photoluminescence (PL) properties were studied in the solid state, at room temperature, using the CPs as powders and encapsulated in poly(methyl methacrylate (PMMA) films, envisaging the potential preparation of devices for sensing. The materials revealed interesting PL properties that depend on the dimensionality, metal ion, co-ligand used and water content.


1986 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Kempster ◽  
J. P. Chadwick ◽  
D. D. Charles

SUMMARYCarcass data for 1053 steers from the Meat and Livestock Commission's beef breed evaluation programme were used to examine the relative precision of alternative fatness assessments for predicting carcass lean percentage. The data were from four trials and comprised both dairy-bred and suckler-bred cattle by a wide range of sire breeds.A visual assessment of carcass subcutaneous fat content to the nearest percentage unit (SFe) was the single most precise predictor both overall (residual S.d. = 2·28) and within breed (residual S.d. = 2·05). Precision was improved by the addition in multiple regression of the percentage perinephric and retroperitoneal fat (KKCF) in carcass, a visual score of the degree of marbling in the m. longissimus and selected fat thickness measurements taken by calipers on cut surfaces (residual S.d. = 2·11 (overall) and 1·90 (within breed)).When the best overall equation was applied to the breed means, there was substantial bias (predicted – actual carcass lean percentage). Biases ranged from +2·5 (purebred Canadian Holstein and Luing) to – 1·3 (Limousin crosses).Breeds differed significantly in carcass lean content when compared at equal levels of fatness measurements. The differences depended both on the precision with which the measurements predicted carcass lean content and the observed differences in carcass composition that existed before adjustments to equal fatness were made.The robustness of prediction equations was examined by applying them to independent sets of data (a total of 334 carcasses) from four other trials involving steers, heifers, cows and young bulls. Equations were stable for cattle of the same breed, sex and similar levels of fatness but important bias was found between more extreme types of cattle.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
V. P. Bui ◽  
◽  
S. S. Gavruishin ◽  
V. B. Phung ◽  
H. M. Dang ◽  
...  

A new technique is described, used by the authors to automate the design process of the main drive of a new generation machine intended for industrial washing of fruits and vegetables. To solve the problem of multi-criteria design, the original approach is proposed that uses interconnected mathematical models describing the dynamic behavior, strength reliability and functional characteristics of the machine in a unified information space. The generalized mathematical model includes 12 controlled parameters, 16 functional constraints, and 3 quality criteria. A genetic algorithm was used to find the space of Pareto-optimal solutions. The situational approach was used to select the final rational solution from a set of solutions belonging to the Pareto-optimal domain. The rational design of option the washer found using the proposed approach is compared with the existing ones. The proposed design methodology can be recommended for the design of a wide range of similar mechanical structures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 34-38
Author(s):  
R. L. Shatalov ◽  
V. A. Medvedev

When controlling the mechanical properties and structure of vessels made of carbon structural steels manufactured by hot deformation on rolling and pressing lines (PPL) of machine-building enterprises of Russia, such cooling media as water, I20 industrial mineral oil, air are used. The applied cooling media are able to provide the workpieces with a given structure with a wide range of mechanical properties. However, the cooling media have a number of technological limitations and conditions of the use, non-compliance with which leads to reject. When cooled in oil, the probability of ignition is high; when cooled in water, hardening cracks may form, and air is not always able to provide the required rate and uniformity of heat transfer to the environment. The efficiency of control of physical and mechanical properties and structure of deformed vessels made of 50 steel by cooling in TERMAT polymer aqueous solutions in different concentrations on PPL of the plant of JSC NPO Pribor was studied. The effect of varying the concentration from 2 to 9% of TERMAT polymer on the formation of metal structure, as well as physical and mechanical properties of hot-deformed vessels was studied. The results of testing the strength and plastic characteristics of vessels by destructive and non-destructive control methods are presented. According to the results of physical and mechanical properties, regression equations were obtained with at least 95% reliability of R2, which establish the relationship between the controlled plastic and strength parameters of the vessel metal`s properties. The conducted researches allowed to compare the indicators of the main physical and mechanical properties of steel vessels at the PPL outlet and to propose methods of inhomogeneity control that reduce time and material costs by 5–10% during the tests.


2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 933-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weinan Pan ◽  
R. P. Boyles ◽  
J. G. White ◽  
J. L. Heitman

Abstract Soil moisture has important implications for meteorology, climatology, hydrology, and agriculture. This has led to growing interest in development of in situ soil moisture monitoring networks. Measurement interpretation is severely limited without soil property data. In North Carolina, soil moisture has been monitored since 1999 as a routine parameter in the statewide Environment and Climate Observing Network (ECONet), but with little soils information available for ECONet sites. The objective of this paper is to provide soils data for ECONet development. The authors studied soil physical properties at 27 ECONet sites and generated a database with 13 soil physical parameters, including sand, silt, and clay contents; bulk density; total porosity; saturated hydraulic conductivity; air-dried water content; and water retention at six pressures. Soil properties were highly variable among individual ECONet sites [coefficients of variation (CVs) ranging from 12% to 80%]. This wide range of properties suggests very different behavior among sites with respect to soil moisture. A principal component analysis indicated parameter groupings associated primarily with soil texture, bulk density, and air-dried water content accounted for 80% of the total variance in the dataset. These results suggested that a few specific soil properties could be measured to provide an understanding of differences in sites with respect to major soil properties. The authors also illustrate how the measured soil properties have been used to develop new soil moisture products and data screening for the North Carolina ECONet. The methods, analysis, and results presented here have applications to North Carolina and for other regions with heterogeneous soils where soil moisture monitoring is valuable.


Botany ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro E. Gundel ◽  
M. Alejandra Martínez-Ghersa ◽  
Lucas A. Garibaldi ◽  
Claudio M. Ghersa

Neotyphodium endophyte fungi are vertically transmitted symbionts of cool-season grasses. The seed phase of the grass’ life cycle appears to be critical for the persistence of the fungus. Endophyte viability decreases faster than seed viability, but little is known of the effects of this endophyte on seed viability. The endophyte could affect seed viability through changes in water content. Here, we assessed the effects of the endophyte on seed viability, the differential survival of endophyte and seed, and the effects of infection on seed water content. Viability of endophyte-infected and noninfected seeds and endophyte were evaluated over a period of 729 d under 12 controlled environmental conditions. Seed viability was reduced by the infection at high temperature and high relative humidity, but not under other conditions. Moreover, endophyte viability decreased faster than seed viability only under high humidity or high temperature. Seed water content was not affected by endophyte presence. The proportion of viable infected seeds was mainly affected by the loss in endophyte viability and secondly by the differential survival of infected and noninfected seeds. Knowledge on the relative importance of these processes is critical to understand the factors affecting the efficiency of endophyte vertical transmission and the frequency of endophyte-infected plants.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Annicchiarico

Legume cultivation has sharply decreased in Italy during the last 50 years. Lucerne remains widely grown (with about 12% of its area devoted to dehydration), whereas soybean is definitely the most-grown grain legume. Poor legume cropping is mainly due to the gap in yielding ability with major cereals, which has widened up in time according to statistical data. Lucerne displays definitely higher crude protein yield and somewhat lower economic gap with benchmark cereals than feed grain legumes. Pea because of high feed energy production per unit area and rate of genetic progress, and white lupin because of high protein yield per unit area, are particularly interesting for Italian rain-fed environments. Greater legume cultivation in Europe is urged by the need for reducing energy and green-house gas emissions and excessive and unbalanced global N flows through greater symbiotic N fixation and more integrated crop-animal production, as well as to cope with ongoing and perspective raising prices of feed proteins and N fertilisers and insecurity of feed protein supplies. The transition towards greater legume cultivation requires focused research effort, comprehensive stakeholder cooperation and fair economic compensation for legume environmental services, with a key role for genetic improvement dragged by public breeding or pre-breeding. New opportunities for yield improvement arise from the ongoing development of cost-efficient genome-enabled selection procedures, enhanced adaptation to specific cropping conditions via ecophysiological and evolutionary-based approaches, and more thorough exploitation of global genetic resources.


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