The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different desiccants on the physiological quality of soybean seeds when applied to different reproductive stages. The experiment was conducted in the 2005/06 crop season using a randomized block design of four repetitions and two varieties. For the very early maturing MSOY 6101 variety, a factorial 3x3x5x2 design was used, with two desiccant treatments (glyphosate and paraquat) and a control (no desiccation), applied at three growth stages (R6, R7 and R8), with five sampling times (2; 4; 6; 8 and 10 days after application) and two evaluation positions on the plant (apex and base). The early maturing MG/BR 46 (Conquista) cultivar was evaluated in a 3x2x5x2 design with treatments applied at only two growth stages (R7 and R8). The results showed that glyphosate adversely affected physiological seed quality, mainly for root length, whereas paraquat caused no apparent effect. The seeds from desiccant applications in the R6 stage showed a lower physiological quality compared to those obtained from applications in the R7 and R8 stages.
harvest; desiccation; glyphosate; paraquat
