The Geometry of Seeds: Seed Shape Definition and Quantification Based on Geometrical Diversity

Dear Colleagues,

Shape is an important property of plants used for the description of organs and structures, such as leaves (for example, Drosera rotundifolia, Plantago ovata), fruits (Coronilla scorpioides, Eugenia pyriformis), and seeds (Polanisia trachysperma, Punica granatum).
Seed description is based on the similarity to geometrical objects such as the sphere, ovoid, or cardioid. However, seed shape description also needs to be quantitative.
Recent methods for the comparison of seed shapes depend on high-throughput systems based on digital image analysis. These methods use the combination of artificial vision technologies with statistical algorithms and may be very efficient for the discrimination of plant species and varieties. However, often these methods do not take into consideration the similarity of seeds with geometrical figures, missing an important reference point.
This has resulted in a "gap" in the current scientific literature on seed shape. Current methods based on artificial vision, algorithms, and statistical analysis need to go back to the initial seed images, combining geometric models with quantitative and statistical methods to analyze seed shapes.
The objective of this Special Issue is to bring together studies on both classical approaches to determine seed shape, based on the similarity to geometrical objects, and modern statistical methods. We do not search for new sophisticated algorithms or statistical applications but for geometrical models that may be applied for seed shape quantification in diverse plant families, genera, species, and varieties.

In summary, quantification of seed shape may offer advantages in the following aspects:

1. Description of plant species
2. Phenotypic analysis of mutants
3. Analysis of seed quality
4. Validation and visual verification of digital image analysis-based methods of seed shape comparison

We welcome submissions on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Identification of geometric models suitable for the quantification of seed shape.
• Quantification of seed shape in diverse taxonomical groups by the comparison with geometric models.
• Examination of the relationship between seed shape and other biological traits related to life form, life cycle, etc.
• Comparison of geometric models with others based on known techniques of geometric morphometry (i.e., the Elliptical Fourier Descriptors, EFDs).
• Investigation of the relationship between morpho-colorimetric seed features and phenotypic traits (i.e., color of fruit, size, etc.).
• Characterization and identification of archaeological seeds by morpho-colorimetric analysis.

We expect to collect a set of articles that highlight the importance of seed geometry for the description of seed shape and adequately emphasize this technique for taxonomy.

Dr. Emilio Cervantes
Guest Editor

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