A serious problem for modern crop production is the quality of seed: latent damage can lead to reduced yields. In this regard, it is of great practical interest to assess the quality of seeds before sowing or storage. The current level of agricultural development requires the use of automated and accurate methods for assessing the quality of seeds, which allow obtaining the maximum amount of information in a short time.
On the basis of the St. Petersburg State Electrotechnical University "LETI" named after. IN AND. Ulyanov (Lenin) has developed a microfocus X-ray computed tomograph that has no analogues in Russia, which will allow you to obtain three-dimensional images of seeds to detect microscopic defects in seed material. This is reported on the website. high school.
“On the basis of our university, a microfocus X-ray computed tomograph has been developed that allows obtaining tomograms, that is, high-resolution volumetric images - the minimum size of a recognizable structure is a few micrometers (one micrometer is a thousandth of a millimeter). Thanks to this, it is possible to carry out research and diagnostics of a variety of objects with high accuracy: from archaeological artifacts to electronic components. This sample of the tomograph will be delivered to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden by the end of the year, it can be used to investigate defects in plant seeds, ”comments Viktor Borisovich Bessonov, Associate Professor of the Department of EPU at St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI”.
The researchers note that the developed tomograph surpasses existing foreign analogues in a number of characteristics. Thus, the X-ray source created at ETU "LETI" makes it possible to achieve very high resolution and high penetrating power, which means that the tomograph can scan objects of a larger volume compared to other similar models of tomographs on the market today.
This setup is of particular interest when conducting precision studies of individual seeds with subsequent comparison of the tomogram of the seed with its growth potential and the forecast of field germination. Seeds after shooting on a microfocus X-ray tomograph completely retain their viability, this is especially necessary when assessing the quality of variety samples and hybrids from the world collection of VIR (All-Russian Institute of Plant Growing and Regional Variety Plots).
The tomograph consists of an X-ray source installed in a special chamber in which samples are placed for examination. Information processing is carried out with the help of software, also developed at LETI. It allows you to visualize and reconstruct data on the objects under study. The unit is assembled from domestically produced components.
The development of a computed tomograph is one of the projects of a large area of work of the Department of Electronic Instruments and Devices of St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI" to create systems (devices, software and methods of use) of microfocus radiography for high-precision express diagnostics of objects in order to improve the quality and productivity of crop production in Russia. Work in this direction is carried out under the guidance of the head of the EPU department Nikolay Nikolaevich Potrakhov.
So, in 2021, the staff of the EPU department, together with specialists from the Agrophysical Research Institute (AFI, St. Petersburg), created a new generation of mobile X-ray and X-ray tomography complexes for express seed diagnostics, as well as methods for their application. The operating sample of the installation was handed over to API staff for research.
In addition, in 2022, a scientific group from LETI and the Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing (Moscow) developed a method for detecting defects in vegetable seeds using radiography. In the long term, LETI researchers, together with various scientific organizations, plan to create methods for detecting defects in seed material for all economically important plant species.
It should be especially noted that a group of scientists from API and St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI", under the guidance of Professor Mikhail Vadimovich Arkhipov, prepared the national standard GOST R59603-2021 "Seeds of agricultural crops. Methods of digital radiography. The document entered into force on January 1, 2022. It is designed to stimulate the development of the domestic seed base, ensure the sustainable growth of Russian industrial seed production and reduce the dependence of Russian agricultural producers on foreign suppliers.