Multiple pepper seeds germinating:

20 pepper seeds are germinated on filter paper covered by a black membrane. During the germination, colour images (on the left) and chlorophyll fluorescence images are captured. The calculated efficiency of photosynthesis is also shown (on the right). Before radicle protrusion, the efficiency of photosynthesis is already increasing, indicating metabolic activity in the seed. The seeds which show the biggest increase of efficiency germinate first.

Bell pepper seed germination:

During the germination phase, the embryo of a bell pepper seed synthesizes chlorophyll. Since the seed coat is translucent, the metabolic activity can be monitored over time by using the PlantExplorer. This video shows the increase of chlorophyll fluorescence (brighter colour means higher fluorescence signal). Notice the increase of chlorophyll fluorescence starts long before radicle protrusion.

Soybean seeds and fluorescence:

In this example, two batches of soybeans are being germinated. The left batch is of poor quality, containing a lot of so-called ‘green seeds’, seeds that are not fully mature. Using the PlantExplorer technology, the images show that these seeds already have a high chlorophyll fluorescence signal in their dry state. The right batch is of high quality, in a dry state, these seeds have a low fluorescence signal. When the water uptake starts, the fluorescence signals of the high-quality seeds increase, indicating metabolic activity. At a certain level of fluorescence, the seeds germinate. The colours used indicate the fluorescence signal level, from low to high: black-red-orange-yellow-green.