Controlled deterioration in stored soybean seeds

Abstract

This research evaluated the physiological quality during storage of three soybean seed lots using the controlled deterioration test, germination and other vigor tests such as: speed of emergence index, electrical conductivity, accelerated ageing and field emergence. Germination and vigor of the seed lots were analyzed before and after three, six and nine months of storage. The controlled deterioration test was conducted under temperatures of 4, 43, and 45 °C to which seeds with moisture contents of 5, 20, and 25% were submitted. The means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% level of probability. Correlation coefficients (r) were determined between the parameters of germination and vigor versus controlled deterioration. It was observed that under the conditions that the experiment was conducted, the germination and vigor tests, the controlled deterioration included, were not capable of ranking the seed lots as to vigor level.Additional keywords: Glycine max (L.) Merrill; accelerated ageing; electrical conductivity; emergence; vigor test.