Detection of sprout damage in wheat kernels using NIR hyperspectral imaging

The use of near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for detecting sprout damage in wheat kernels was investigated. Experiments were carried out to determine which spectral bands had the best potential for discriminating between sound and sprouted kernels. Two wavelengths were selected and combined into an index that was used to indicate the presence or absence of sprouting. Experiments with three wheat cultivars revealed that the proposed method is effective in identifying kernels for which the germination process has initiated, achieving 100% accuracy for the samples used in this study. It was also observed an imperfect correlation with the Falling Number (grain quality), making it challenging to accurately determine the degree of germination, especially if sprouts are not yet clearly visible. These results confirm the usefulness of the near-infrared spectral range for detecting chemical alterations in wheat kernels, as well as the fact that most information is usually contained in a few specific bands within such range.