Automated Laser-Optical Setup for Seed Monitoring over Time

The biospeckle laser (BSL) technique is recognized as a sensitive method for detecting biological activity and has been successfully applied for seed vigor testing. Given these achievements, whether the integration of BSL into automated systems can provide complementary information on the seed imbibition process remains limited. Addressing this gap represents a significant challenge with strong potential for technological innovation. This study presents an automated laser-optical system designed to monitor the imbibition process of multiple seeds over time using a mechanized carousel. The developed apparatus integrates all necessary components for the illumination and image acquisition of eight seeds across programmable time intervals, controlled by an industrial-grade programmable controller. Validation using maize seeds (Zea mays L.) over a 36-h period confirmed the system’s reliability. BSL indices enabled the characterization of internal biological activity throughout imbibition, revealing dynamic processes that remained undetected in previous discrete-time analyses. These results highlight the potential of the proposed system for more comprehensive and continuous seed monitoring. The successful automated laser-optical system with relative humidity control opens great potential in seeds research and daily industrial analysis. The test of the proposed system in other seeds is the next challenge, regarding the thick and colored coats. The design of larger carousels is a possible step forward, which will demand studies of the limits linked to the illumination and image acquisition time performed in each seed.