Uso de raios X na viabilidade de sementes de mamoeiro

Abstract

The X-ray test is considered a fast and non-destructive method, where the principle of the technique consists in the absorption of X-rays in different amounts by the seed tissues. The objective of this work wasto verify if the X-ray technique is efficient in evaluating the viability of papaya seeds. The work was carried out at the Seed Technology Laboratory of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Chapadão do Sul campus and at the Seed

Laboratory of the Federal Institute of Goiano, Campus Rio Verde. The X-ray test was

performed with 50 seeds with four replications, placed on transparent acrylic plates on double- sided adhesive tape, and numbered so that they could be identified in subsequent evaluations,

where they were subjected to radiation in an X-ray equipment " HP Faxitron”. After exposure, the seeds were submitted to the germination test, in the same order as they were on the acrylic plate, which was conducted on germitest paper, being kept in a germinator at 20-30 °C, with evaluation at 19 days after test installation. Seedlings were photographed and evaluated as normal, abnormal and non-germinated. Afterwards, the X-ray images and the seedlings generated by the same seeds were visually compared, and the X-ray images clearly showed seeds with and without internal filling. It was found that 100% of the abnormal seedlings were full seeds, therefore it was not possible to separate normal and abnormal X-ray images. The germination test showed 42% normal seedlings, 23% abnormal and 35% non-germinated. On average, there was an accuracy of 83.5% in the comparison between the X-ray images and the generated seedlings. Perhaps a longer period of germination evaluation could increase the percentage of correctness between the X-ray image and the seedling generated. Thus, it is concluded that the use of X-rays is a promising technique in the identification of viable and non-viable papaya seeds.