Vigor and oxidation reactions in soybean seedlings submitted to different seed chemical treatments

Abstract

Abstract: The interaction of different seed chemical treatment with seedlings germination, vigor and stress metabolism attributes needs to be better understood in soybean crop. The objectives of this study were to evaluate seed vigor, germination, and biochemical attributes of soybean seedlings as a function of different seed chemical treatments. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted, with 8 seed treatments and 4 replicates. Seed germination, vigor (first germination count, cold test, accelerated aging, emergence speed index), seedling biomass, enzimes activity and SVIS® analysis were evaluated. The evaluated treatments had no difference relative to control on seed germination and vigor. Through image analysis, the seedling uniformity index were equal or higher than control with the seed chemical treatment, while vigor and growth indexes had no difference. Shoot biomass of seedlings tends to decrease with seed chemical treatments, and root biomass had no difference. Seed chemical treatments increased the activity of hydrogen peroxide in seedlings by 6 to 40% compared to control; the activity of catalase increased by 87 to 184% compared to control; and no effect was observed in lipids peroxidation. Overall, seed chemical treatment benefited the physiological activity of soybean seedlings and improved antioxidant metabolism activity. None of the seed chemical treatments used were phytotoxic.