Single seed viability checked by delayed luminescence.

Time resolved spectral components of delayed luminescence (DL) from single dry soybean seeds were measured using a device with single photon sensitivity. The seeds were aged by a thermal treatment to change their viability. A correlation was observed between the seeds viability and some DL parameters, i.e. the total number of photons emitted and the relative decay probability of excited states. This relevant result confirms the close connection between the state of biological systems and their DL, and it can allow the development of a quick selection technique for single dry seeds, a goal impossible up today.