SEED QUALITY CHARACTERIZATION OF SOYBEAN CULTIVARS

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the
physiological seed quality of seven soybean cultivars of early
cycle in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The seeds were
produced in a regional cultivar trial tests (Julio de
Castilhos/RS/Brazil), and stored at a cold chamber at 10ºC
and 35% RH. The seeds were evaluated twice, in may/97 and
november/97, by morphological description (hilum and
hypocotyl color, hilum shape) and physiological
characterization (standard germination, accelerated aging,
electrical conductivity, tetrazolium test, and determination of
root and hypocotyl length). A peroxidase test was performed
and also the weight of a thousand seeds (WTS) was checked.
The statistical design was completely randomized in a 7x2-
bifactorial arrangement. The multiple mean comparison was
performed using Duncan's test. The results showed that those
soybean seeds had good germination and vigor, but quality
was slightly reduced after six months, even on good storage
conditions. Differences among cultivars were small. Standard
germination, accelerated aging and conductivity tests were
able to select soybean cultivars in relation to seed quality. The
soybean cultivars produced in 1996/1997 and evaluated on
cultivar trial test showed good physiological seed quality.