Physiological and sanitary quality of commercial and saved soybean (Glycine max.) seeds produced in the midwest region of the Santa Catarina

Abstract

The midwest region of Santa Catarina is responsible for about 51.7% of all seed production in the state, being a region of importance in the production process of commercial seeds. The use of saved seeds in crops by the producer has become a growing practice, as the producer believes it is a reduction in their production costs, in order not to pay for seed royalties. This research aimed to evaluate the physiological and sanitary quality of commercially-produced soybean seeds from the mid-west region of Santa Catarina. The experiment was conducted in the seed laboratory of the University of the West of Santa Catarina – campus de Campos Novos – SC. A completely randomized experimental design was used, in a 4x2 factorial scheme, with 4 soybean cultivars (55I57 RSF IPRO, 50I52 RSF IPRO, BS 2606 IPRO and DOM MARIO 5.9i), and 2 production systems (commercial and saved). The physiological quality attributes of these seeds were evaluated by the germination and vigor test (tetrazolium, root length and hypocotyl), the health quality was evaluated by the sanity test in culture medium BDA. According to the tests carried out, it was possible to observe the interaction between the cultivars and the production systems evaluated, and the storage environment can directly influence the quality of these seeds, considering that generally, as saved seeds, they are stored in inadequate conditions causing further deterioration in the seed coat. Concludes hat the commercial seeds were superior to the saved ones in relation to the germination test and for the sanitary quality, due to the lower incidence of storage fungi. For vigor there was variation according to cultivar and production system.