This experiment was conducted at the State University of Londrina to evaluate laboratory methodology for determining soybean cultivar tolerance to the herbicide sulfentrazone. A modified germination test was evaluated using different solutions of the herbicide as moistening agent. The soybean cultivars Coodetec 206 and Coodetec 207, considered tolerant and sensitive to the herbicide, were evaluated. Solutions of the herbicide with 25, 50, 100 and 250 mg L-1 concentrations were prepared and compared to a control with distilled water. The paper towel was imbibed with the different solutions at a volume equivalent to three times the weight of the dry paper. An experimental unit consisted of single rolled paper towels, each containing 50 seeds, which were incubated in a germinator at 25 ºC for five days, with light being supplied during the day. Hypocotyl, radicle and seedling lengths as well as seedling weight were determined for all the treatments. A completely randomized design in a factorial scheme (2 cultivars x 5 concentrations) was used. The Tukey test at 5% probability was used for mean comparison. The solution with 250 mg L-1 sulfentrazone caused severe injury to the seedlings rendering it impossible to detect any differences between the cultivars. However, the solution with 50 mg L-1 sulfentrazone was the most effective in characterizing the cultivars as tolerant or sensitive, based on the hypocotyl, radicle and seedling lengths. Hypocotyl length was the most effective parameter for characterizing cultivar tolerance to the herbicide. It was concluded that the modified germination test evaluated in the experiment was adequate for determining soybean cultivar tolerance to the herbicide sulfentrazone.
phytotoxicity; sensitivity; selectivity; Glycine max
