kateryna.dugina@nottingham.ac.uk, craig.sturrock@nottingham.ac.uk, ian.fisk@nottingham.ac.uk

Wheat, a fundamental cereal grain sustaining 36% of the global population, stands as a cornerstone in worldwide nutrition. As milling processes demand precise separation of wheat grain tissues, understanding its intricate anatomical structure becomes paramount. This paper delves into the application of X-ray micro-computed tomography (X-ray µCT) coupled with image segmentation techniques to analyze the wheat grain's internal composition.

The anatomy of wheat grain comprises the starchy endosperm, germ, and outer seed coat, each delineating unique nutritional and functional properties. Conventional methods for anatomical assessment, while informative, often lack precision and involve intrusive sample preparations. Advanced imaging techniques like Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy and Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) provide detailed chemical insights but suffer from low throughput.

To address these limitations, the study evaluated X-ray µCT as a novel non-invasive imaging method to understand wheat grain anatomy. Whilst previous studies have highlighted its utility as an imaging technique, our study significantly advanced this field. We demonstrated that X-ray µCT serves as a rapid, high-throughput analysis tool capable of visualizing individual grain anatomy. This was achieved by implementing specialized in-house structural segmentation methods, namely Histogram-based segmentation and Trainable Weka Segmentation (TWS).

These methods proved to be robust and reliable in delineating internal structures such as the endosperm and germ, offering automatic micron-scale insights into the grain's structure.

Ultimately, this research aims to assess the feasibility and accuracy of these segmentation methods in delineating wheat grain tissues, offering potential advancements in understanding and optimizing milling processes for enhanced grain tissue separation and nutritional value extraction.