Contribution to the standardization of methodologies of germination and vigor analysis of soybean seeds

Abstract

Germination and vigor tests are important for obtaining information on the physiological quality of seed lots. However, there may be differences between test results, according to the methodologies used. The objective of this work was to elucidate the influence of the water proportion and the number of seeds in the tests of germination and vigor of soybean. The seeds were subjected to two trials by testing the water ratios of 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 times the dry paper mass and using 25, 50 and 100 seeds per replicate. The trials were conducted in a completely randomized design and evaluated by percentage of germination, first count, germination speed index, shoot length and seedling root. The proportions of distilled water and the number of seeds influence the germination and vigor results of soybean seeds. The germination and vigor tests of soybean seeds should be conducted with eight replicates of 50 seeds and with a water content between 2.0 and 3.0 times the mass of the dry paper.