Correlation between vigor by accelerated aging at pre-sowing and soybean seedling emergence in the field

Abstract

Although the accelerated aging test is widely used to determine seed vigor, there are methodological variations in seed exposure time at 41 °C. Therefore, the objective was to indicate the most appropriate seed exposure time to segregate lots that also exhibits a correlation with seedling emergence in the field, and establish vigor levels using the aforementioned test. Soybean seed samples were collected at pre-sowing, representing 100 lots in the 2016/2017 growing season and 125 lots in the 2017/2018 season from different warehouses in 4 regions of Santa Catarina state (SC). Physiological quality was evaluated by germination, accelerated aging (24 and 48 h at 41 °C) and field emergence tests. The results were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis and Pearson’s correlation analysis (p < 0.05). The rank sum index, associated with the Scott-Knott clustering method, was used to classify physiological quality. The average germination percentage was 90 and 91% in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing seasons, respectively. Vigor obtained an average of 86 (2016/2017) and 85% (2017/2018), when seeds were submitted to accelerated aging for 48 h, and 89% (both seasons) for 24 h. In regard to field emergence, the average was 85 and 80% in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 growing seasons, respectively. Considering the 225 lots, the greatest correlation with field emergence was observed in vigor - 48 h (r = 0.71 p < 0.05). Rank sum classification made it possible to establish vigor-based categories, whereby batches with over 85% vigor by 48-h accelerated aging were classified as high vigor, 70 to 84% medium vigor, and under 70% low vigor.