ScreenSeed as a novel high throughput seed germination phenotyping method.

A high throughput phenotyping tool for seed germination, the ScreenSeed technology, was developed with the aim of screening genotype responsiveness and chemical drugs. This technology was presently used with Arabidopsis thaliana seeds to allow characterizing seed samples germination behavior by incubating seeds in 96-well microplates under defined conditions and detecting radicle protrusion through the seed coat by automated image analysis. This study shows that this technology provides a fast procedure allowing to handle thousands of seeds without compromising repeatability or accuracy of the germination measurements. Potential biases of the experimental protocol were assessed through statistical analyses of germination kinetics. Comparison of the ScreenSeed procedure with commonly used germination tests based upon visual scoring displayed very similar germination kinetics.