Accelerated Aging Tests and Automated Computer Imaging System (SVIS®) to Assess the Performance of Soybean Seeds During Storage.

The evaluation of soybean seed vigor has been useful in seed industry as a basis for important decisions such as to identify seed lot storability and to define the most appropriate storage conditions.The objective of this study was to verify the accuracy of accelerated aging tests (traditional and SSAA) and an automated system for seedling evaluation (SVIS^®) to assess the physiological potential and estimate the storability of soybean seeds in comparison to other accepted vigor tests for this species. Two cultivars ‘BRS 184’ and ‘M-Soy 7908 RR’, each represented by six lots were used. Seeds were stored under two environmental conditions: controlled (20ºC and 75% relative air humidity) and normal laboratory conditions for six months. Seed performance was evaluated at two month intervals by germination, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, tetrazolium, SVIS^® and seedling emergence. Results indicated that the storability of soybean seeds can be consistently evaluated by associating germination and vigor tests, including accelerated aging (traditional and SSAA) and SVIS^®.

Keywords: Glycine max (L.) Merrill; deterioration; vigor; quality control; seed analysis