Image analysis and physiological quality assessment of seeds produced in pumpkin plants infected with the squash mosaic virus (SqMV)

Abstract

Squash mosaic virus (SqMV) is transmitted by seeds and infect various species of Cucurbitaceae causing severe yield losses. Avoiding the early introduction of the SqMV via seeds in field crops is the most important control measure; therefore, finding a reliable method which can identify the physiological qualities of the seeds produced by SqMV infected plants, could help select uninfected seed lots. The aim of this study was to use an X-ray test to evaluate the internal damage of seeds produced by infected Cucurbita pepo cv. caserta, followed by the investigation of germination, the percentage of abnormal plants, emergence, emergence speed, tetrazolium and the emergence speed index. Overall, the percentage of full seeds was much lower in the infected seeds, while the number of damaged seeds was higher. In the germination test, with regard to the percentage of abnormal plants and emergence, the infected seeds showed significant decreases in the performance, when compared with the healthy seeds. The mean speed of emergence and seed vigor were also lower in the infected seeds. Moreover, the radiographic analysis and vigor tests proved, for the first time, to be useful tools in assessing the quality of the seeds produced by the SqMV infected plants and revealed that the quality of the infected seeds was always lower than that of the healthy seeds. Thus, the use of these techniques can assist in the design and optimization of seed analysis, or contribute to additional studies involving virally infected plants, such as in pumpkin seeds.