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.