A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass

Abstract Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) was adopted as experiment materials for identifying the seed maturity using a combination of multispectral imaging and machine learning. The trials were conducted to investigate the effects of three nitrogen application levels (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha− 1, d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chengming Ou, Zhicheng Jia, Shiqiang Zhao, Shoujiang Sun, Ming Sun, Jingyu Liu, Manli Li, Shangang Jia, Peisheng Mao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Plant Methods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-025-01359-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849392230202081280
author Chengming Ou
Zhicheng Jia
Shiqiang Zhao
Shoujiang Sun
Ming Sun
Jingyu Liu
Manli Li
Shangang Jia
Peisheng Mao
author_facet Chengming Ou
Zhicheng Jia
Shiqiang Zhao
Shoujiang Sun
Ming Sun
Jingyu Liu
Manli Li
Shangang Jia
Peisheng Mao
author_sort Chengming Ou
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) was adopted as experiment materials for identifying the seed maturity using a combination of multispectral imaging and machine learning. The trials were conducted to investigate the effects of three nitrogen application levels (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha− 1, defined as CK, N1 and N2 respectively) and two spikelet grain positions: superior grain (SG) at the basal position and inferior grain (IG) at the upper position, on smooth bromegrass seeds. The germination characteristics of the seeds revealed that the variations in nitrogen application and grain positions significantly influenced seeds vigor. The seed vigor of increased gradually with their maturity, reaching a high level at 30 and 36 days after anthesis. A stacking ensemble learning approach was employed to identify the seed maturity based on multispectral imaging and autofluorescence imaging. The results demonstrated that the Ensemble model outperformed Support Vector Machine, Bayesian, XGBoost and Random Forest across all evaluated metrics in different scenarios. The model accuracy in CK, N1 and N2 were 89%, 87% and 93%, respectively. Furthermore, the SHapley Additive exPlanations method was selected to interpret the Ensemble model, identifying important features such as 405, 430, 540, 630, 645, 690, 850, 880 and 970 nm. These features exhibited a significant correlation with fresh weight, shoot length and vigor index. These findings showed the high accuracy and generalizability of the Ensemble model for identifying the maturity and quality of smooth bromegrass seeds. Therefore, a new strategy would be offered for evaluating seed maturity and vigor level.
format Article
id doaj-art-55f66f4c188946a9b228cf6d81bb19a6
institution Kabale University
issn 1746-4811
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Plant Methods
spelling doaj-art-55f66f4c188946a9b228cf6d81bb19a62025-08-20T03:40:48ZengBMCPlant Methods1746-48112025-03-0121111610.1186/s13007-025-01359-8A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrassChengming Ou0Zhicheng Jia1Shiqiang Zhao2Shoujiang Sun3Ming Sun4Jingyu Liu5Manli Li6Shangang Jia7Peisheng Mao8College of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Grassland Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Pratacultural Science, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis) was adopted as experiment materials for identifying the seed maturity using a combination of multispectral imaging and machine learning. The trials were conducted to investigate the effects of three nitrogen application levels (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha− 1, defined as CK, N1 and N2 respectively) and two spikelet grain positions: superior grain (SG) at the basal position and inferior grain (IG) at the upper position, on smooth bromegrass seeds. The germination characteristics of the seeds revealed that the variations in nitrogen application and grain positions significantly influenced seeds vigor. The seed vigor of increased gradually with their maturity, reaching a high level at 30 and 36 days after anthesis. A stacking ensemble learning approach was employed to identify the seed maturity based on multispectral imaging and autofluorescence imaging. The results demonstrated that the Ensemble model outperformed Support Vector Machine, Bayesian, XGBoost and Random Forest across all evaluated metrics in different scenarios. The model accuracy in CK, N1 and N2 were 89%, 87% and 93%, respectively. Furthermore, the SHapley Additive exPlanations method was selected to interpret the Ensemble model, identifying important features such as 405, 430, 540, 630, 645, 690, 850, 880 and 970 nm. These features exhibited a significant correlation with fresh weight, shoot length and vigor index. These findings showed the high accuracy and generalizability of the Ensemble model for identifying the maturity and quality of smooth bromegrass seeds. Therefore, a new strategy would be offered for evaluating seed maturity and vigor level.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-025-01359-8Smooth bromegrassNitrogenSeed maturityMultispectral imagingStacking ensemble
spellingShingle Chengming Ou
Zhicheng Jia
Shiqiang Zhao
Shoujiang Sun
Ming Sun
Jingyu Liu
Manli Li
Shangang Jia
Peisheng Mao
A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass
Plant Methods
Smooth bromegrass
Nitrogen
Seed maturity
Multispectral imaging
Stacking ensemble
title A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass
title_full A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass
title_fullStr A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass
title_full_unstemmed A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass
title_short A novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass
title_sort novel approach integrating multispectral imaging and machine learning to identify seed maturity and vigor in smooth bromegrass
topic Smooth bromegrass
Nitrogen
Seed maturity
Multispectral imaging
Stacking ensemble
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-025-01359-8
work_keys_str_mv AT chengmingou anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT zhichengjia anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT shiqiangzhao anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT shoujiangsun anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT mingsun anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT jingyuliu anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT manlili anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT shangangjia anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT peishengmao anovelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT chengmingou novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT zhichengjia novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT shiqiangzhao novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT shoujiangsun novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT mingsun novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT jingyuliu novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT manlili novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT shangangjia novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass
AT peishengmao novelapproachintegratingmultispectralimagingandmachinelearningtoidentifyseedmaturityandvigorinsmoothbromegrass