Spectroscopy Technologies to Screen Peanut Seeds with Superior Vigor Through “Chemical Fingerprinting”
Gustavo Roberto Fonseca de Oliveira,
Welinton Yoshio Hirai,
Dennis Silva Ferreira,
Karolyne Priscila Oliveira Mota da Silva,
Giovani Chaves Silva,
Tiago Bueno Moraes,
Clissia Barboza Mastrangelo,
Fabiola Manhas Verbi Pereira,
Edenir Rodrigues Pereira-Filho,
Edvaldo Aparecido Amaral da Silva
Affiliations
Gustavo Roberto Fonseca de Oliveira
Department of Crop Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Welinton Yoshio Hirai
Department of Exacts Sciences, College of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz”, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
Dennis Silva Ferreira
Group of Analytical Instrumental Analysis, Chemistry Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil
Karolyne Priscila Oliveira Mota da Silva
Department of Crop Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Giovani Chaves Silva
Group of Alternative Analytical Approaches, Bioenergy Research Institute, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University, Araraquara 14800-060, SP, Brazil
Tiago Bueno Moraes
Department of Biosystems Engineering, College of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz”, University of São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba 13418-900, SP, Brazil
Clissia Barboza Mastrangelo
Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environment, Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba 13416-000, SP, Brazil
Fabiola Manhas Verbi Pereira
Group of Alternative Analytical Approaches, Bioenergy Research Institute, Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University, Araraquara 14800-060, SP, Brazil
Edenir Rodrigues Pereira-Filho
Group of Analytical Instrumental Analysis, Chemistry Department, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, SP, Brazil
Edvaldo Aparecido Amaral da Silva
Department of Crop Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu 18610-034, SP, Brazil
Peanut seeds are harvested at different development stages (early and late) due to their uneven maturation. At the time of harvest, approximately 30% of the seeds are still immature, meaning they are not completely filled with compounds (e.g., oil and minerals) and exhibit reduced vigor. Hypothetically, these compounds can be detected as a “chemical fingerprinting” to classify seed maturation stages. Here, we investigated whether non-destructive techniques such as benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) can identify chemical patterns unique to mature seeds with superior vigor. Field-grown seeds were classified into early (R5 and R6) and late (R7, R8, and R9) stages. Seed weight, germination, vigor, H2O2, and MDA (oxidative stress) were analyzed. Oil, potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) were measured digitally using spectroscopy techniques. We found that: (i) oxidative stress and K levels were higher in seeds from the early stages; (ii) seed oil and Ca were proportional to high-vigor seedlings and successful plant establishment in the field; and (iii) the seed chemical composition could be identified autonomously with 87% to 100% accuracy. In conclusion, LIBS, ED-XRF, and NMR technologies can effectively screen peanut seeds with superior vigor through “chemical fingerprinting”.
