Physiological and sanitary quality of commercial and saved seeds of soybean

Abstract

The increase in costs of selected and certified soybean seeds is evident in recent years. Knowing that farmers can use saved seeds, the aim of the study was to evaluate the physiological and sanitary quality of saved seeds produced in the first and the second crop in Western Paraná State, Brazil, compared to commercial seeds. The experiment was conducted at Seed Laboratory of the State University of West Paraná, with seeds of soybean cultivar Vmax RR (NK 7059RR), arranged in 5x3 factorial with four replications. For the first factor treatments refer to seed lots with different sources of production: two lots in the second crop of 2010 with and without seed treatment (ST), two lots of first crop of 2010/2011 with and without ST and one commercial lot of seeds 2010/2011 with ST. The second factor is related to accelerated aging, being maintained for 0, 24 and 48 hours at a temperature of 41 ºC. To check the quality of seeds were evaluated germination, electrical conductivity and first germination in September 2011. Also was assessed the pathogens present in the seeds used in the treatments. Commercial seed scored higher germination, first count, number of normal seedlings, as well as the accelerated aging test as the electrical conductivity test. Commercial seed had vigor and superior germination qualities than saved seeds, not being viable use seeds saved from the previous crop or second crop with pest problems.