Purpose: This study examined the performance of two spectroscopy methods and multivariate classification methods to discriminate viable pepper seeds from their non-viable counterparts. Methods: A classification model for viable seeds was developed using partial least square discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) with Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) and Raman spectroscopic data in the range of 9080-4150 cm -1 (1400-2400 nm) and 1800-970 cm, respectively. The datasets were divided into 70% to calibration and 30% to validation. To reduce noise from the spectra and compare the classification results, preprocessing methods, such as mean, maximum, and range normalization, multivariate scattering correction, standard normal variate, and 1 st and 2 nd derivatives with the Savitzky-Golay algorithm were used. Results: The classification accuracies for calibration using FT-NIR and Raman spectroscopy were both 99% with first derivative, whereas the validation accuracies were 90.5% with both multivariate scattering correction and standard normal variate, and 96.4% with the raw data (non-preprocessed data). Conclusions: These results indicate that FT-NIR and Raman spectroscopy are valuable tools for a feasible classification and evaluation of viable pepper seeds by providing useful information based on PLS-DA and the threshold value.

Purpose: Nondestructive evaluation of seed viability is a highly demanded technique in the seed industry. In this study, hyperspectral imaging system was used for discrimination of viable and non-viable radish seeds. Method: The spectral data with the range from 400 to 1000 nm measured by hyperspectral reflectance imaging system were used. A calibration and a test models were developed by partial least square discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) for classification of viable and non-viable radish seeds. Either each data set of visible (400~750 nm) and NIR (750~1000 nm) spectra and the spectra of the combined spectral ranges were used for developing models. Results: The discrimination accuracy of calibration was 84% for visible range and 76.3% for NIR range. The discrimination accuracy of test was 84.2% for visible range and 75.8% for NIR range. The discrimination accuracies of calibration and test with full range were 92.2% and 92.5%, respectively. The resultant images based on the optimal PLS-DA model showed high performance for the discrimination of the nonviable seeds from the viable seeds with the accuracy of 95%. Conclusions: The results showed that hyperspectral reflectance imaging has good potential for discriminating nonviable radish seeds from massive amounts of viable seeds.