Non-Destructive Method for Estimating Seed Weights from Intact Peanut Pods Using Soft X-ray Imaging

In the U.S., peanut farmers receive premium prices for crops with high seed grades. One component of seed grade is the proportion of seed weight to that of pod hulls and other matter. Seed weight and size are also important traits for food processors. Current methods for evaluating peanut seed grade require the opening of the pod and are time-consuming and labor-intensive. In this study, a non-destructive and efficient method to determine peanut seed weights was investigated. X-ray images of a total of 513 peanut pods from three commercial cultivars, each representing three market types, were taken using a soft X-ray imaging system. The region of interest of each image, the seeds, was extracted two ways, manually and with a differential evolution segmentation algorithm. The comprehensive attenuation index (CAI) value was calculated from the segmented regions of interest. Lastly, linear regression models were established between peanut seed weights and the CAI. The results demonstrated that the X-ray imaging technology, coupled with the differential evolution segmentation algorithm, may be used to estimate seed weights efficiently from intact peanut pods.