SOYBEAN CULTIVARS BEHAVIOR AS TO PHYSIOLO GICAL SEED QUALITY

This work was carried out in order to evaluate if there was a relation ship between genotypes and the physiological soybean (Glycine max L.) seed quality. It was conducted during three years using seven cultivar s each year. The seeds were harvested at: I)yellow radicle or expanded pod stage, 2) yellow pod or physiological maturity (R7), 3) harvest m aturity (R8), and 4) R8 + 21 days delay. Seed moisture content, standa rd germination, and vigor tests were performed. The germination and vi gor evaluated by accelerated aging and electrical conductivity did not show physiological seed quality differences among genotypes as harves ted at physiological maturity. Then, the evaluation of seed germinatio n and vigor, when the environment is not a considered factor, is not a n efficient method to show differences amony soybean genotypes in term s of seed quality.