Seed vigor testing is an important component for the seed industry quality control. This study was conducted to compare different procedures of the accelerated aging and the controlled deterioration tests to evaluate soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] seed vigor. Two soybean cultivars, BR-37 and Embrapa 48, each represented by different seed lots were used. All lots were submitted to two procedures of placing seed samples on the accelerated aging tray: 1. the addition of a monolayer of seeds or 2. the use of a standard weight (42.5 g) of seeds. The study also examined the possibility of using a saturated NaCl solution in substitution to water in comparison to the standard accelerated aging test (48 and 72 h at 41°C, followed by germination during four days). Controlled deterioration test was conducted using seeds with water content raised to 15.5%, placed in laminated aluminum bags and maintained in water-bath at 40°C for 48h followed by a germination test. Information provided by the accelerated aging test was not influenced significantly by the procedure used to place seed samples on the tray, both in the standard test and in the salt accelerated aging test. This procedure and also the controlled deterioration test may be considered as efficient alternatives for the assessment of soybean seed vigor allowing for results as consistent as those provided by the standard accelerated aging test.
Glycine max; seed analysis; physiological quality
