The effect of conditioning on soybean seed quality

Acceptable quality of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Mer.] seed is hard to achie ve when poor growing conditions occur during reproductive development. Seed can be damaged during harvest and any time it is handled, This study was c onducted to determine the effect of seed conditioning (the process of clean ing, treating, and preparing seed for planting) on soybean seed quality. We also wanted to determine whether seed quality could be improved or cleanou t (the seed and foreign matter removed during conditioning) reduced by diff erent conditioning techniques. Sized seed fractions from seed lots were exa mined for quality indicators before and after each seed lot was conditioned . Seed quality indicators measured included: seed per pound, seed moisture, damaged seed, standard germination, and germination following accelerated aging. Germination tended to be highest for the middle-sized fractions(14/6 4 to 16/64 in.). Sizes larger than this tended to have a lower germination when seed moisture content was below 12%. Germination in each small seed fr action was lower (< 13/64 in.) regardless of the moisture level. Seed large r than 17/64 in. had greater seed damage from handling (seed damage as indi cated by broken seed coats) in the Clorox test than any other size fraction and showed a significant reduction in germination with increasing seed dam age. Germination was reduced by seed conditioning in nearly all lots that h ad low seed moisture (<10.0%). Decreasing the amount of small seed removed during conditioning can reduce cleanout and tends to improve germination.