Radicle emergence test for cabbage can be assessed using multispectral imaging

The potential of multispectral imaging (MSI, using a VideometerLab©) to achieve automation of the assessment of radicle emergence (RE) in the RE vigour test and thereby increase the throughput of vigour testing, was examined using 12 commercial seed lots from three varieties of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var capitata). The RE of the 12 lots was assessed after 48 hours germination at 20°C using both MSI (MSI RE48) and a manual count. The RE counts made using MSI were highly correlated to manual counts taken by eye at the same time (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) and to RE assessments taken using RGB imaging (r = 0.84, p < 0.01). MSI RE48 was significantly related to field emergence after seven days (r = 0.87, p < 0.01) and glasshouse emergence after six days (r = 0.86, p < 0.01); similar relationships with emergence were found for the RE assessments taken using RGB imaging. Our data indicate that an automated count of RE is possible in the RE test using MSI imaging and relates to seed vigour in cabbage.