Adverse weather conditions after the physiological maturity of soybean seeds have caused problems in their physiological potential, including "weathering" damage. Through the image analysis technique (X-ray), the intensity and location of the damage can be identified. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different storage conditions on the evolution of humidity damage in soybean seeds using the X-ray and physiological potential tests. Three batches of TMG113-RR cultivar were used, stored for eight months under three conditions: uncontrolled environment, dry chamber (50% RH and 20 ºC) and cold chamber (90% RH and 10 ºC). Every 2 months, the seeds were evaluated using the tests for germination, accelerated ageing, seedling emergence in the field and X-rays. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3x3x5 factorial (batches x environment x storage) and the means were compared by the Tukey test at the 5% probability level. In general, an increase in the occurrence and intensity of humidity damage and a decrease in physiological potential during storage was observed. This tendency was greater in those seeds stored in the uncontrolled environment and less in seeds stored in the cold chamber.
seed quality; glycine Max (L.) Merrill; germination; vigor
