Comparison of viability and vigor tests in soybean seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merrill.)

The methodologies to determine seed vigor are used in order to complement the germination test, the latter estimate the viability of the seeds. Similarly, the tetrazolium test can also make this estimate, however, presenting its results earlier, when compared with the germination test. However, the viability and vigor analysis methodologies may present differences in results. Thus, the objective of this work was to compare the relation between the viability and vigor results of the tetrazolium test with the results of the germination and accelerated aging tests, respectively, in soybean seed lots. The experiment was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Parana State Association of Seed and Seedlings Producers, using 19 lots of the cultivar TMG7063 IPRO analyzed by germination, accelerated aging and tetrazolium tests (viability, vigor and identification of damages caused by stinkbugs, mechanical damage and moisture deterioration). The analysis of the data and the interpretation of the results allowed to conclude that the viability has a closer relation with the germination, even taking into account, that the tetrazolium test overestimates the results. Therefore, it can be assert that, for the evaluated lots, the viability presented results compatible with the results of germination pattern test. The analysis of vigor, by tetrazolium test compared to accelerated aging, presents inferior results of vigor, probably such results are influenced by identification and interpretation, of damage caused to the seeds, as mechanical, by stinkbug and moisture.