DETERMINATION OF SEED CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS L) BY USE OFX-RAY RADIOGRAPHY

There is a high variability of morphological seed characteristics with in maize (Zea mays L.) ear, according to the position on the ear. Sinc e the measurements of seed dimensions are time consuming (volume, leng th, width) or destructive, the X-ray radiography method was used to es timate seed characteristics. Five batches of seeds, corresponding to f ive kinds of grains (different in weight, tickness or position on the ear), were measured manually and by X-ray radiography. The grain width is well estimated from radiography images. There is a good relationsh ip between embryo weight and embryo area measured on the X-ray images, and at a lesser extent, between seed volume and embryo area, particul arly for flat grains. Even if measurements from radiographic images ar e time consuming, X-ray radiography is the best non-destructive method to estimate maize seed characteristics.