Image analysis – Applications – Animal – plant – or food inspection
Reexamination Certificate
2005-04-18
2008-05-13
Werner, Brian (Department: 2624)
Image analysis
Applications
Animal, plant, or food inspection
C348S089000, C047S00101T, C047S05810R, C702S159000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07372978
ABSTRACT:
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.
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International Seed Testing Associ
Bennett Mark Alan
Evans Andrew Frederick
Fujimura Kikuo
McDonald, Jr. Miller Baird
Sako Yusaku
Calfee Halter & Griswold LLP
Goradia Shefali
The Ohio State University Research Foundation
Werner Brian
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