Physiological potential of soybean seeds after maturation and submitted to artificial drying

Cesar Pedro Hartmann Filho,Elton Aparecido Siqueira Martins,Tathiana Elisa Masetto,Guilherme Cardoso Oba,André Luís Duarte Goneli

doi:10.1590/2317-1545v39n4175656

Cesar Pedro Hartmann Filho, Elton Aparecido Siqueira Martins + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v39n4175656

Copy DOI

Abstract

Abstract: This study evaluated the physiological potential of soybean seeds harvested during two seasons, on different maturation stages and subjected to different drying temperatures. The seeds were harvested at the maturations stages R7, R7 + 2, R7 + 3, R7 + 5, R7 + 6, R7 + 7, R7 + 10 and R7 + 12 days (55, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, and 20% of moisture content). For each maturation stage, seeds were divided into three samples: one sample was used to directly evaluate the physiological potential, and the others were dried at 40 °C and 50 °C, until reaching the moisture content of 11.5%. The physiological potential was evaluated through germination test, first germination count of germination, accelerated aging, modified cold, electrical conductivity and seedling emergence. The maximum physiological potential of seeds is achieved at the moisture content of 55%, the point that the dry matter is maximum. The seeds became tolerant to artificial drying approximately at the stage R7 + 7 days (30% of moisture content). Germination and vigor of the soybean seeds reduce as the drying temperature is increased from 40 °C to 50 °C, and this effect is enhanced when the seeds show moisture contents above 30%.

Highlights

Obtaining high quality soybean seeds has historically been one of the major challenges to this commodity production
In the electrical conductivity test, the significant interaction between the sowing season and the drying treatment confirmed that changes in the physiological potential of the seeds were related to these variables (Table 1)
Based on the first germination count test in the present study, the seeds dried at 40 °C and 50 °C, the maximum vigor was observed for seeds with moisture contents of 30% and 25%, showing 92% and 78% germination, respectively; as soon as desiccation tolerance in soybean seeds occurred later than the seed physiological maturation, a stage at which the seeds still have a high humidity

Summary

Introduction

Obtaining high quality soybean seeds has historically been one of the major challenges to this commodity production. The maximum physiological potential does not always coincide with tolerance to drying and with a convenient harvest time. Leaving the crop in the field exposes the seeds to adverse conditions that may reduce the performance of the seeds. It is, necessary to obtain a better understanding of the maturity stage at which the seeds acquire the ability to tolerate drying and the time at which the maximum germination and vigor potential are reached, under different climatic conditions (Carvalho and Novembre, 2012; Zadeh et al, 2014; Donato et al, 2015; Xavier et al, 2015; Castro et al, 2016). In the present work was evaluated the physiological potential of soybean seeds from two sowing seasons, harvested on different maturation stages and subjected to different drying temperatures

Materials and Methods

Results and Discussion

Conclusions