公开(公告)号：US07372978B2

公开(公告)日：2008-05-13

申请号：US11108527

申请日：2005-04-18

申请人： Miller Baird McDonald, Jr. ,  Kikuo Fujimura ,  Mark Alan Bennett ,  Yusaku Sako ,  Andrew Frederick Evans

发明人： Miller Baird McDonald, Jr. ,  Kikuo Fujimura ,  Mark Alan Bennett ,  Yusaku Sako ,  Andrew Frederick Evans

IPC分类号： G06K9/00

CPC分类号： G06T7/0012 ,  G06T2207/30004 ,  G06T2207/30128

摘要： A system and method for automatically determining a seed vigor index for a lot of seeds by analysis of a scanned image of a plurality of seedlings grown from lot of seeds, including automatically separating and analyzing overlapped seedlings. According to one aspect of the current invention, seedling analysis software is used to analyze an image of seedlings. The seedling analysis software preferably analyzes both hypocotyl and radicle lengths and thus determines the separation point between the two for each seedling. The seedling analysis software also preferably separates overlapped seedlings, preferably using a simulated annealing technique. According to another aspect of the present invention, a low-cost scanner placed in an inverted configuration in a scanner enclosure is used to generate high-quality, reproducible images of seedlings. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of using ordinary germination boxes, i.e., “sandwich boxes” is used to germinate seedlings that greatly facilitate computer-based analysis. In general, this method comprises placing germination blotter paper in the lid of a sandwich box and growing seedlings within the sandwich box in a nearly vertical (upright) position in a darkened germination chamber. The resulting seedlings produce hypocotyls that grow essentially upward and radicles that grow essentially downward, which greatly facilitates image acquisition of the entire seedling, e.g., with an inverted scanner.

摘要翻译： 通过分析从大量种子生长的多个幼苗的扫描图像来自动确定大量种子的种子活力指数的系统和方法，包括自动分离和分析重叠的幼苗。 根据本发明的一个方面，使用幼苗分析软件来分析幼苗的图像。 幼苗分析软件优选分析下胚轴和胚根长度，从而确定每个幼苗两者之间的分离点。 幼苗分析软件还优选分离重叠的幼苗，优选使用模拟退火技术。 根据本发明的另一方面，使用放置在扫描仪外壳中的倒置配置的低成本扫描仪来生成幼苗的高质量，可重现的图像。 根据本发明的另一方面，使用普通发芽盒即“夹心盒”的方法来发芽，这极大地促进了基于计算机的分析。 通常，这种方法包括将萌发吸墨纸放置在夹心盒的盖子中，并且在黑暗的发芽室中几乎垂直（直立）位置的三明治盒内种植幼苗。 所产生的幼苗产生基本向上生长的下胚轴和基本上向下生长的胚根，这大大促进了整个幼苗的图像采集，例如用倒置的扫描仪。

公开(公告)号：US06882740B1

公开(公告)日：2005-04-19

申请号：US09591432

申请日：2000-06-09

申请人： Miller Baird McDonald, Jr. ,  Kikuo Fujimura ,  Mark Alan Bennett ,  Yusaku Sako ,  Andrew Frederick Evans

发明人： Miller Baird McDonald, Jr. ,  Kikuo Fujimura ,  Mark Alan Bennett ,  Yusaku Sako ,  Andrew Frederick Evans

IPC分类号： A01C1/06 ,  G06K9/00 ,  G06T7/00

CPC分类号： G06T7/0012 ,  G06T2207/30004 ,  G06T2207/30128

摘要： A system and method for automatically determining a seed vigor index for a lot of seeds by analysis of a scanned image of a plurality of seedlings grown from lot of seeds, including automatically separating and analyzing overlapped seedlings. According to one aspect of the current invention, seedling analysis software is used to analyze an image of seedlings. The seedling analysis software preferably analyzes both hypocotyl and radicle lengths and thus determines the separation point between the two for each seedling. The seedling analysis software also preferably separates overlapped seedlings, preferably using a simulated annealing technique. According to another aspect of the present invention, a low-cost scanner placed in an inverted configuration in a scanner enclosure is used to generate high-quality, reproducible images of seedlings. According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of using ordinary germination boxes, i.e., “sandwich boxes” is used to germinate seedlings that greatly facilitate computer-based analysis. In general, this method comprises placing germination blotter paper in the lid of a sandwich box and growing seedlings within the sandwich box in a nearly vertical (upright) position in a darkened germination chamber. The resulting seedlings produce hypocotyls that grow essentially upward and radicles that grow essentially downward, which greatly facilitates image acquisition of the entire seedling, e.g., with an inverted scanner.

摘要翻译： 通过分析从大量种子生长的多个幼苗的扫描图像来自动确定大量种子的种子活力指数的系统和方法，包括自动分离和分析重叠的幼苗。 根据本发明的一个方面，使用幼苗分析软件来分析幼苗的图像。 幼苗分析软件优选分析下胚轴和胚根长度，从而确定每个幼苗两者之间的分离点。 幼苗分析软件还优选分离重叠的幼苗，优选使用模拟退火技术。 根据本发明的另一方面，使用放置在扫描仪外壳中的倒置配置的低成本扫描仪来生成幼苗的高质量，可重现的图像。 根据本发明的另一方面，使用普通发芽盒即“夹心盒”的方法来发芽，这极大地促进了基于计算机的分析。 通常，这种方法包括将萌发吸墨纸放置在夹心盒的盖子中，并且在黑暗的发芽室中几乎垂直（直立）位置的三明治盒内种植幼苗。 所产生的幼苗产生基本向上生长的下胚轴和基本上向下生长的胚根，这大大促进了整个幼苗的图像采集，例如用倒置的扫描仪。