X-ray analysis of seed material of woody and shrub species promising in protective afforestation

Information about the method of digital microfocus radiography of tree seeds is given. Data on morphological parameters of seeds of three species of tree species Gleditsia triacanthos L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Cotinus coggygria Scop. are presented. The analysis of seed quality for the presence of various defects was carried out by the method of digital microfocus radiography.
Introduction. Relevance. The issue of conservation and restoration of forests is becoming increasingly relevant in the light of climate change and increased consumption of wood resources. Highquality seed material is the main and key factor for successful breeding and restoration of forests. The seed material of tree species is the basis for obtaining highly productive and healthy forest plantations. It plays a crucial role in the formation of the genetic basis of trees, and ultimately determines their quality, resistance to stressful conditions. The method of digital microfocus radiography of seeds is an effective tool for assessing the quality and potential viability of seeds. The method allows to determine the internal structure, density of seeds and their defects.
Object. The objects of the study were seeds of three species of tree and shrub species (Gleditsia triacanthos L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Cotinus coggygria Scop.) and digital X-ray images.
Materials and research methods. The research was carried out on the basis of the biotechnology laboratory of the Federal Scientific Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Seeds of tree species promising in protective afforestation, agroforestry and landscaping were selected for analysis. The seed material was collected on the territory of the collection site of the Kirovsky Forestry SSC (Volgograd) in 2022. Digital microfocus X-ray analysis of seeds was carried out on the software and hardware complex of the mobile X-ray diagnostic unit PRDU-02 for seed quality control. The results were statistically processed using the MS Excel 2016 software package and were presented as an arithmetic mean, taking into account the error of the mean. The comparison of the obtained results with each other was carried out according to the Mann-Whitney U-criterion. The differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05.
Results and conclusions. The obtained data of the Xray analysis of the studied species of tree and shrub species made it possible to assess the quality of the seed material without injuring them with the possibility of further use. The main and most common defects are non–fulfillment of seeds, frailty and damage by pests. The nature of defects in seeds has an individual character, this is due to the specific characteristics of plants and the climatic zone of growth. The maximum indicators of high–quality seeds were noted in G. triacanthos – 78%, while 20% were damaged by insects. Visually, no damage was noticed on the seeds of R. pseudoacacia –70% of normally executed seeds, 8% unfulfilled and puny, and 14% damaged by insects. In comparison with other species, C. coggygria has a high percentage of unfulfilled seeds – 12% and puny seeds – 24%. Using the example of the seeds under study, it can be concluded that for each species it is individually necessary to select certain shooting parameters: magnification factor, time exposure and voltage (kV). X-ray analysis can be recommended as an express method for determining the quality of seed material of tree and shrub species.

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