Updated Methods for Seed Shape Analysis

Figure 1

Digital processing of Jatropha curcas L. seed images. (a) Images corresponding to 25 seeds. (b) Binary images (black and white) of the seeds obtained by segmentation of the figure. (c) Silhouettes of seed images. (d) Ellipses adjusted to each seed image (fitted ellipses are given by the program Image J). (e) A seed with its image after segmentation and the silhouettes of the image (top) and the adjusted ellipse. (f) An example of the seed with its bounding rectangle (top) and the seed with the fitted ellipse, showing in both cases the major and minor axes. The values of area and perimeter, length, and width are obtained directly with Image J. The values are used to obtain the shape descriptors. The comparison of the area of the seed with the area of a model ellipse is used in the calculation of J index. J index is the ratio of shared (area common between seed and ellipse)/unshared area (see the text and Figure 2).

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