X-Ray radiography – A quick method for determining the seed filling in grasses

The seeds of the range and cultivated grass species viz., Bothriochloa intermedia, Brachiaria decumbens, Cenchrus ciliaris (CAZRI-75 and 2178), C. setigerus, Chrysopogon fulvus, Dichanthium annulatum, Heteropogon contortus, Panicum maximum (Hamil, Wild hairy, var. BG-1and BG-2), Pennisetum pedicellatum (var. BD-1 and BD-2), Sehima nervosum, Setaria anceps and S. sphacelata were evaluated for seed filling using X-Ray machine. The results obtained are comparable with the results of manual dehusking of the seeds and visual observations. Among some species such as C. setigerus, C. fulvus, S. nervosum, S. anceps and S. sphacelata, slight differences (0.6–3.5 percent plus minus) in seed filling was observed in the results obtained with manually dehusking and X-ray radiography. So the x-ray radiography offers a quick, reliable and non-destructive method for rapid identification of seed filling in grasses.