The objective of this study was to determine the possibility of reducing the preconditioning period (imbibition time) before the staining process in the tetrazolium test for soybean seeds. Seeds of the cultivars OCEPAR 4-Iguacu and BR-4 with different levels of quality, were submitted to four periods of imbibition (4, 6, 8 and 10 h) under two temperatures (35°C and 42 °C). The standard procedure used for soybean seeds in the tetrazolium test (16h/25°C) was used as the control. It was concluded that the temperature used during the precondidioning process of the seeds affects the precision of the test: preconditioning at 42°C for 8 to 10 h, and eventually for 6h, results in adequate staining patterns of the seed structures. This allows the identification of the typical patterns that result from seed deterioration (field weathering), sting bug damage and mechanical injury.
Glycine max (L.) Merrill; tetrazolium; temperature; seed; levels of quality; mechanical damage