During the 1997/98 soybean growing season, 331 seed samples of several cultivars were collected from [several] farms in the states of Paraná, Minas Gerais, Goias, and Rio Grande do Sul for evaluation of their physiological, physical and sanitary characteristics [aiming] to identify the best regions to produce high quality seeds. The statistical analysis showed that high levels of mechanical damage associated with weathering deterioration and sting stink bug damage affected significantly the seeds [originated] from the Western and Northern regions of Parana, Minas Gerais and Goias states, when compared to those from Southern Parana and Rio Grande do Sul. Seed germination, vigor and viability of the majority of the cultivars from those regions was reduced. It was also observed that the incidence of pathogenic organisms, in certain regions, did not affect the physiological quality of the seeds. In general, the conclusion is that seeds from Southern Parana and Rio Grande do Sul states show better quality when compared to seeds from the other regions.
tetrazolium; vigor; mechanical damage; quality control
