X-RAY AND IMAGE ANALYSES OF SEEDS OF Passiflora cincinnata AND Passiflora morifolia

Wild species of passion fruit present characteristics such as resistance to diseases and pests, longevity, and adaptability to adverse climatic conditions. Morphological analyses of seeds of wild species are frequently performed to investigate reproductive aspects of plants used in genetic improvement programs. The present study evaluated the quality of seeds of Passiflora cincinnata and Passiflora morifolia at different stages of fruit development, through X-ray and GroundEye® software image analyses. Four repetitions of 50 seeds and four stages of fruit maturation were used. X-ray-exposed seeds were classified as "full" or "empty". The computerized image analysis evaluated 10 descriptors related to color dominance and 7 descriptors related to geometry. A germination test was subsequently performed. In X-rayed samples, a higher percentage of empty seeds was detected in the green phase of maturation (6% for P. cincinnata and 11% for P. morifolia). GroundEye software® findings indicated that differences in coloration may indicate differences in the physiological quality of seeds. The collective results indicate that fruits of P. cincinnata and P. morifolia can be collected at the "on time", mature, and senescent maturation stages without compromising the physiological quality.