Water uptake of soybean seeds, depending on seed size, occur at different intensities and can be related to the physiological potential. With the purpose of determining the pattern of water uptake of soybean seeds and its relationship to their physiological potential, one soybean seed lot, cv. BRS-155, was separated into different sizes (6.75; 6.35; 5.95; 5.55; 5.15; 4.75 e 4.35 x 19 mm). Seed sizes 6.35; 5.55 and 4.75 mm were submited to a slow hydration (pré-conditioning) and dried to the original water content. Water uptake was evaluatad at 20ºC in samples of 130 seeds distributed on a suspended wire-mesh screen inside a plastic box, with the addition of 20 ml of water. Initial water content was evaluated through drying, and the imbibition rate through weighting the seeds after 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 e 24 hours, in 5 replications. Physiological quality was evaluated through standard germination, accelerated aging and electrical conductivity tests, before and after water uptake. Among the different sizes, smaller seeds had lower physiological quality in the treatment without conditioning and, except for the accelerated aging without conditioning, medium seed size had the best performance. Water uptake was more intense in smaller seeds. In general, the smallest or largest seeds were of lower quality than those of medium size.
Glycine max; water uptake; germination; vigor; seed size
