Treatment of soybean seeds with mechanical damage: effects on their physiological potential

Gustavo Roberto Fonseca De Oliveira,Silvio Moure Cicero,Francisco Carlos Krzyzanowski,Francisco Guilhien Gomes-Junior,Thiago Barbosa Batista,José De Barros França-Neto

doi:10.1590/2317-1545v43247404

Gustavo Roberto Fonseca De Oliveira, Silvio Moure Cicero + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v43247404

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Abstract

Abstract: Mechanical damage is a serious problem for the physiological potential of soybean seeds, especially when combined with chemical treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chemical treatment on the physiological potential of soybean seeds with increasing levels of mechanical damage. Soybean seeds (cv. M6410 IPRO) of two lots with differences in vigor were subjected to five levels of mechanical damage (zero, one, two, three, and four impacts) brought about in a controlled manner. After characterization of the effect of the impacts on seed physical integrity (X-ray, X-ray microtomography, tetrazolium, and sodium hypochlorite), the seeds were subjected to four combinations of chemical treatment with fungicides (carbendazim and thiram), insecticides (imidacloprid and thiodicarb), micronutrients (cobalt and molybdenum), polymer (Peridiam®), and drying powder (Talkum Gloss®). Seed germination and vigor were evaluated sixty days after chemical treatment. A progressive increase in mechanical damage, especially that which causes cracks in the seed coat, reduces the physiological potential of soybean seeds and increases their sensitivity to the phytotoxic effect of the chemical treatment. The physical integrity of the seed coat is crucial for the success of technologies used for chemical seed treatment.

Highlights

Mechanical damage is one of the factors that most give rise to qualitative loss in soybean seeds; this damage mainly occurs at the time of harvest and during transport for processing (Holtz and Reis, 2013)
Knowledge has been obtained on the harmful effects of mechanical damage in soybean seeds, few studies have sought to clarify the effects of this problem in association with chemical seed treatment, especially in relation to mechanical damage that brings about cracks in the seed coat
This study showed that soybean seeds with cracks in their coat brought about by mechanical damage are more sensitive to the phytotoxic effects of the chemical treatment

Summary

Introduction

Mechanical damage is one of the factors that most give rise to qualitative loss in soybean seeds; this damage mainly occurs at the time of harvest and during transport for processing (Holtz and Reis, 2013). The physical integrity of soybean seeds is an extremely important factor to be evaluated before the step of chemical treatment, and it is one of the essential requirements for the success of this important technology (França-Neto et al, 2016). In this context, the use of image analysis techniques has allowed mechanical damage to be investigated in leguminous seeds with high resolution and detailing. Accurate study of where mechanical damage occurs can potentially assist understanding of the effects of chemical treatment on soybean seeds with cracks in the seed coat and severe damage in parts of the embryo

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