Infrared Spectroscopy-Based Metabolomic Analysis for the Detection of Preharvest Sprouting in Grain

Abstract

Preharvest sprouting of grains causes significant losses to growers and buyers. The problem occurs throughout the world, and economic losses can be millions of dollars. Visual assessment of germination is ineffective because even grains showing no external signs (e.g., having a visible shoot) may still have germinated sufficiently so that it is no longer possible for high-quality products to be made from them. Current procedures to determine whether a grain has germinated are based around measuring enzyme or starch levels. However, despite protracted efforts to develop enhanced ways to measure germination over the last 50 years, there are currently no sufficiently accurate or reliable approaches available. The present work assesses the potential for infrared spectroscopy-based metabolomic profiling to assess the germination of barley and wheat. The results indicate that mid- and near-infrared spectroscopy are able to determine if the grain has germinated and give an indication of how long the germination process has been occurring. Both techniques are already well established in the grain industry and have the potential to form the basis of a simple, fast dockside test that would allow segregation of sound and mildly sprouted grain.

Plant phenotyping relevance

赤外分光法を用いて穀粒の発芽状態と発芽期間を推定する測定法を中心に評価しており、植物器官の生理状態を取得するフェノタイピング手法に該当する。

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