The Paradigm Seedlot Vigor Assessment system

The Paradigm Seedlot Vigor Assessment (SVA) system employs digital imaging to determine seed vigor. Comprising automated and semi-automated imaging de vices, the system uses image analysis to processes successive images of ger minating seedlings. Ultimately, the SVA system derives a seed vigor rating from total radicle growth rate over time. The overall goal is to provide ob jective data collection while requiring a fraction of the amount of time ne cessary to manually measure each seedling. Thus, the system is capable of p roviding excellent results (the correlation between predicted and observed stands is commonly in the 0.8 to 0.9 range) which reduces labor cost. In ad dition, because machines are used to measure seedling growth, relatively lo wer skilled workers can provide data collection.