Evaluation and Development Trends of Optical Detection Technology for Seed Vigor

High-vigor seeds could show superiority in field production because seed vitality is essentially a comprehensive concept composed of germination rate, germination potential, and vitality index. Seed vitality was a traditional method of measurement, albeit a time-consuming and laborious one accompanied by errors caused by human factors. Optical technology had developed rapidly in the agricultural field, making it possible to detect seeds with high precision, high frequency, and high efficiency. In this article, the basic principles, advantages, and limitations of different optical techniques for obtaining seed vigor estimates are introduced and reviewed, and the key technology of non-destructive optical detection of single seeds will be discussed. In addition, the current situation of optical detection nondestructive technology in single seed detection will be discussed and analyzed, and the three directions of optical principle (seed characteristic spectrum database, intelligent sorting, and grading equipment) will be explored, providing a reference for the research methods using optical technology applied to seed detection.