Bean seed phenotyping: 3D imaging of internal traits related to water uptake

Seed phenome is directly related to product quality also in case the seed is the end-product. X-ray microCT and 3D image analysis have been successfully applied in food science and seed research because it is very useful to investigate very small details like some seed traits which are very complex to score non-destructively. The micropyle, the strophiole and the hilum of bean seeds are structures which play an important role in water uptaking which influences, in turn, not only their germination but also their industrial processing and cooking. Such structural traits of the beans are never been quantified by using 3D imaging approaches. In this work, after X-microCT scanning of four ancient Italian landraces of beans we propose an image analysis approach to characterize the three-dimensional morphometry of the differen tissues composing the hilum and micropilar regions of the beans. Results allowed to quantitatively compare the seed phenotype of the four landraces. Moreover, vascular, funicular and strophiole tissue volumetric proportions proved to be internal traits showing correlation with measurements of water uptake of the seeds.