Design of Device for Optical Luminescent Diagnostic of the Seeds Infected by <i>Fusarium</i>

Abstract

The development and application of optical luminescent methods and devices will help obtain information quickly and objectively about the level of Fusarium infection of agricultural plants. For the previously obtained ranges, the spectral characteristics of excitation and luminescence of wheat, barley, and oats of various degrees of infection were measured. The obtained dependences of flows on infection were approximated by linear regression models and relative sensitivities were determined. For wheat and barley, it is advisable to determine the degree of infection by the ratio of flows Φλ1/Φλ2, which makes it possible to calibrate the measuring device in relative units and increase its sensitivity. A method for determining the degree of infected seeds with Fusarium was developed. After the seeds are placed in a light-tight chamber, they are excited by radiation, and photoluminescence is recorded. The electrical signal from the radiation receiver is amplified and processed accounting for previously obtained calibration curves. In the universal device that measures the infection of wheat, barley, and oats seeds, it is necessary to have three radiation sources: 362 nm, 424 nm, and 485 nm. Based on the energy efficiency criteria, optimal LEDs and photodiodes, as well as a microcontroller, switches, operational amplifiers, a display, and other components of the device, were selected.

Keywords

• grain plants seeds
• <i>Fusarium</i>
• photoluminescence
• linear regression models