Hydric restriction as vigor assessment method of soybean seeds

Restrição hídrica como método para a avaliação do vigor em sementes de soja

Hydric restriction as vigor assessment method of soybean seeds

Restrição hídrica como método para a avaliação do vigor em sementes de soja

Denis Santiago da Costa^*; Cartiane Rubishirley Macêdo da Rocha; Ana Dionisia da Luz Coelho Novembre

Departamento de Produção Vegetal - USP/ESALQ, Caixa Postal 9, 13418-900 - Piracicaba, SP, Brasil

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of using hydric restriction as a method for evaluating vigor of soybean seeds. The soybean seeds, cultivar BRS 245RR, represented by four different seed lots, were characterized by germination and vigor. For the treatment of hydric restriction and temperature, the combination of substrate water potential and temperature were the following: deionized water (0.0 MPa); polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) aqueous solution (-0.1, -0.3 and -0.5 MPa); and four temperatures (20 ºC, 25 ºC, 30 ºC, and 35 ºC), respectively. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with four replications per treatment, and the ANOVA was performed individually for each combination of temperature and water potential of substrate. According to results obtained, the test of hydric restriction has the same efficiency of the accelerated aging test in estimating vigor of soybean seeds, cv. BRS 245RR, when water potentials of -0.1 MPa or -0.3 MPa at a temperature of 25 ºC, or -0.3 MPa at a temperature of 30 ºC are used.

Index term:Glycine max, temperature, PEG6000, physiological potential.

RESUMO

Objetivou-se com este trabalho verificar a possibilidade do uso da restrição hídrica como método para a avaliação do vigor em sementes de soja. As sementes de soja, cultivar BRS 245RR, representadas por quatro lotes, foram caracterizadas quanto à germinação e ao vigor. Para os tratamentos de restrição hídrica e temperatura, as combinações de potenciais hídricos do substrato e temperaturas foram as seguintes: água deionizada (0,0 MPa) e soluções aquosas de PEG 6000 (-0,1, -0,3 e -0,5 MPa) e quatro temperaturas de germinação (20 ºC , 25 ºC, 30 ºC e 35 ºC), respectivamente. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro repetições e a análise de variância determinada individualmente para cada combinação de temperatura e disponibilidade hídrica do substrato. De acordo com os resultados o teste de restrição hídrica tem a mesma eficiência que o teste de envelhecimento acelerado, para estimar o vigor de sementes de soja, cv BRS 245RR, quando são utilizados os potenciais hídricos de -0,1 MPa ou -0,3 MPa à temperatura de 25 ºC, ou de -0,3 MPa à temperatura de 30 ºC.

Termos para indexação:Glycine max, temperatura, PEG 6000, potencial fisiológico.

Introduction

The vigor test is an additional alternative tool used by producing companies to implement assessment of seed physiological potential. Seed vigor comprises those proprieties that determine potential for seed germination and seedling emergence in a fast and uniform way under a wide diversity of environmental conditions (AOSA, 1983).

There are nowadays a variety of different tests to estimate seed vigor that are recommended in function of the plant species assessed. According to Vieira et al. (2003), several tests are recommended for assessing vigor of soybean seeds, with emphasis on tests of accelerated aging, tetrazolium, electric conductivity, seedling growth, and classification of seedling vigor. Among the available tests, the accelerated aging is internationally recognized as the most adequate for assessing physiological potential of seeds of various plant species, including soybean, once provides coherent information on seed vigor (TeKrony, 1995). This method has inclusively been standardized by the International Seed Testing Association and since 2001 it is a test whose method is described in the rules for seed analysis of that association. Researchers, however, are constantly evaluating other new technologies to estimate seed vigor and the use of hydric restriction test, during germination process, can be considered as promising in estimating seed vigor as are the test of accelerated aging and the cold test (Silva et al., 2006).

Some researchers have studied influence of hydric availability on germination of soybean seeds. McDonald et al. (1988) have found reduction of soybean seed germination in PEG 6000, starting from osmotic potential of -0.511 MPa. Therefore, the range between 0.0 and -0.5 MPa has potential to estimate soybean seed vigor without reduction on germination, once that, according to Braccini et al. (1998), vigor is more affected than is seed germination when hydric restriction increases.

Notwithstanding, literature results on this matter are still scarce and need further studies. Thus, the objective of this research work was to verify the possible use of hydric restriction as a method for evaluating vigor of soybean seeds.

Material and Methods

The research work has been carried out at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Plant Production Department of the Superior School of Agriculture Luiz de Queiróz, Piracicaba Campus, University of São Paulo (USP/ESALQ), with four lots of seeds of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], cv. BRS 245RR.

Preliminary tests were performed as follows:

Seed moisture content: this test has been performed with two replications of 10 ± 1 g of seeds each, weighed in a 0.001 g precision analytical balance, and dehydrated by the oven method at 105 ± 3 ºC, for 24 h. After that period, seed samples were again weighed, thus allowing computation of moisture content, in wet basis (Brasil, 2009).

Germination test: 200 seeds were randomly taken from each sample and divided into four replications of 50 seeds each. Seeds of each replication were then arranged on top of two sheets of paper towels, covered with another sheet of the same paper, moistened with sterile distilled water, in an amount equivalent to 2.5 times the mass of dry substrate, made into rolls, and placed into a seed germinator at 25 ºC. Assessments were performed at the fifth and eighth day after starting the test, according to Rules for Seed Analysis (RSA) (Brasil, 2009).

Electrical conductivity: four replications of 50 seeds each were used. After drying, seeds were immersed in 75 mL of distilled water, into plastic cups and then maintained in an incubatoion chamber at 25 ºC, for 24 h (Vieira and Krzyzanowski, 1999). After this period, the electric conductivity of hydration solution was assessed.

Accelerated aging: it was carried out with four replications of 50 seeds each, which were evenly distributed, in a single layer, on top of a stainless screen placed on the upper part of 11 cm x 11 cm x 3.5 cm transparent plastic boxes (gerbox) containing 40 mL of sterile distilled water at the bottom. The boxes were then lidded and placed into a seed germinator, at 41 ºC, for 48 h (Marcos-Filho, 1999). After such time span, seeds were assessed by germination test as previously described. Assessment was performed together with the test of first count of germination, at the fifth day after test beginning, according to RSA (Brasil, 2009).

After characterization of moisture content and of physiological potential of seeds from all four lots of seeds, treatments were defined by combining the different water availability of substrate and the temperatures for seed germination. The osmotic solutions were prepared by dissolving polyethylene glycol salt (PEG 6000) aiming at obtaining osmotic potential of -0.1, -0.3, and -0.5 MPa. This way, quantities of PEG 6000 needed were computed using the equation proposed by Michel and Kaufmann (1973), which is: ψos = - (1.18×10^-2) C - (1.18×10^-4) C² + (2.67×10^-4) CT + (8.39×10^-7) C²T in which: ψos = osmotic potential (bar); C = concentration (PEG 6000 g. litter distilled H₂O^-1); and T = temperature (ºC). Once solutions were obtained, 200 seeds were split into four replications of 50 seeds each, which were then placed between sheets of germination paper (Germitest^®) moistened with distilled water (control) or with the different osmotic solutions, in an amount equivalent to 2.5 times the dry mass of paper substrate. Afterwards, the sets (paper + seeds) were placed into seed germinators, at temperatures of 20 ºC, 25 ºC, 30 ºC, and 35 ºC. A single counting was performed, at the fifth day after sowing, considering vigorous only the seeds that produced seedlings with length higher than half the length of the largest normal seedling of each replication. Results were expressed in percentage of seedlings with such characteristics.

A completely randomized experimental design was used for experiment, with treatments arranged into a 4 x 4 factorial scheme (four temperatures x four osmotic concentrations of substrate). The ANOVA was performed individually for each set of factors (temperature x osmotic concentration) and treatment means were compared by the Duncan test at 5% probability. Data were likewise analyzed by Pearson's correlation and (R) values of variables and coherent results were correspondent to those whose associations between hydric availability and temperatures were correlated with at least three tests indicated for vigor assessment of soybean seeds.

Results and Discussion

Results on characterization of physiological quality of soybean seeds indicated that seeds initially had differences on moisture contents smaller than two percentage points (Table 1), this way interference of moisture content on results of the other tests was eliminated (Marcos-Filho, 2005).

Seeds of the four lots have had a percentage of germination higher than that established for commercialization standards (80%) (Brasil, 2005 ), and lot 1 has had a percentage of germination statistically higher than the remaining seed lots (Table 1).

Result of assessments for first count of germination showed that lot 1 had the most vigorous seeds, significantly differing from lots 2, 3, and 4. Lot 2 also showed higher figures than lots 3 and 4. Between these two last lots, however, statistically significant differences were not found in this test (Table 1).

It was possible to detect statistically significant differences on seed vigor among the four seed lots by the accelerated aging test, and they all differed among each other and from the seed lot 1, the one which had seeds with the best vigor. Results of electrical conductivity test have statistically defined seed quality distinctions only between lots 1 and 2. Among all seed lots assessed, lot 4 has presented the highest quantity of lixiviates (Table 1).

For test of seedling length it was verified that only seed lot 1 has presented plants with higher size than the remaining seed lots. It was not possible to statistically differentiate lots 1 and 2 by this test, but seeds from lot 4 produced plants with the smallest lengths. On assessing seedling dry mass, seed lot 1 surpassed all remaining lots and was thus the seed lot with the most vigorous seeds. Lots 2 and 3 did not statistically differ between each other by this test; and seed lot 4 has had the lowest dry mass of seedlings (Table 1).

Thus, after completion of the physiological potential characterization of seeds for all seed lots, lot 1 was classified as the one with the most vigorous seeds and lot 4 was sorted as the one with seeds having the lowest vigor.

Seeds of the four different lots when subjected to combinations of all four levels of hydric restriction of substrate and four different temperatures have presented reduction on germination and on vigor when the hydric potential of substrate was decreased, with no exceptions and for all the combinations (Tables 2 and 3). Such results reiterate decreases on germination and vigor of soybean seeds when reductions of substrate osmotic potential occur (Braccini et al., 1998; Moraes and Menezes, 2003).

Under the temperature of 20 ºC during five days normal seedlings were not found, mainly for hydric potentials of -0.1 MPa, -0.3 MPa, and -0.5 MPa, although under such conditions only seeds which have produced plants with primary root already emitted were assessed. Under temperatures of 25 ºC and 30 ºC were found already formed seedlings, making possible detection of quality differences among seed lots (Table 3). The temperature of 35 ºC, however, was not suitable for performing this test, due to large amount of contaminant fungi impairing the assessments (Table 2). Development of contaminant fungi were likewise favored by reductions on hydric potential of substrate, once with the use of osmotic potential of -0.5 MPa, higher fungal contamination occurred. Machado et al. (2003) considered that hydric restriction by using solutes such as mannitol, NaCl, and KCl and hydric potentials between -0.6 and -1.0 MPa is a procedure which prevents or reduces germination of soybean seeds and is commonly used with such purpose for assessments of sanity of these seeds. The hydric potential of -0.5 MPa is close to those cited by those authors, thus confirming the results related to seed germination assessments herein performed.

The temperature of 30 ºC associated to hydric potential of -0.3 MPa were correlated, at 5% probability, with four vigor tests used to assess physiological quality of soybean seeds (accelerated aging, electric conductivity, length of seedlings, and dry mass of seedlings) (Table 4). The temperature of 25 ºC associated to hydric potential of -0.1 MPa was correlated with tests of electric conductivity and length of seedlings at 5% probability as well as to accelerated aging test at 1% probability (Table 4). In addition, the temperature of 25 ºC associated to hydric potential of -0.3 MPa was likewise correlated, at 5% probability, with the tests of first count of germination and length of seedlings as well as to accelerated aging test, at 1% probability (Table 4).

Combinations of temperatures and hydric potential of substrate (25 ºC at -0.1 MPa; and 25 ºC or 30 ºC at -0.3 MPa) once were correlated with other vigor tests and likewise with the accelerated aging test at 5% and 1% probability, indicate the possibility of using this method as a test of vigor to assess physiological quality of soybean seeds (Table 4). Besides, this method has advantages in relation to accelerated aging test or to the test of seed germination, since that it reduces time in obtaining results. For soybean seeds, six to seven days are necessary to assess vigor of seeds by the accelerated aging test; or yet, 48 h of incubation period, at 41 ºC plus four to five days for the process of seed germination to assess seeds by the germination test. For the method herein proposed only five days are needed.

The values of hydric potential found in this research are in agreement with those of Braccini et al. (1996) who verified that hydric potentials below -0.3 MPa are essential to assess vigor of soybean seeds. Oppositely, Silva et al. (2006) have found that when hydric potentials were equal or lower than -0.6 MPa, the sorting of different levels of soybean seed quality was possible. Therefore, results achieved within this research work confirm the non-need of using hydric potentials below -0.3 MPa to assess vigor of soybean seeds.

Consequently, considering results herein obtained as well as results obtained by other researchers, it is indeed possible to use the test of hydric restriction to assess physiological potential of soybean seeds, once results of this test were correlated with results of other tests already established to assess seed vigor, specially the accelerated aging test.

Conclusions

The test of hydric restriction has the same efficiency of the accelerated aging test to assess vigor of soybean seeds when hydric potentials of -0.1 MPa or -0.3 MPa, at temperatures of 25 ºC are used; or then when -0.3 MPa at temperature of 30 ºC are used.

Submitted on 07/07/2011.

Accepted for publication on 09/30/2011.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 June 2012
• Date of issue
  June 2012

History

• Received
  07 July 2011
• Accepted
  30 Sept 2011