The adoption of genetically modified soybean cultivars is increasing annually around the world, which indicates the excellence of these genotypes. For soybean breeding, the use of such cultivars in a backcross program relies on the ability to detect the transgenic trait. The germination test in a moistened substrate with glyphosate is effective and of low cost, however, wonders whether this is a non-destructive method to check cultivars. The objective of this study was to apply a bioassay for detection of herbicide-tolerant seeds and to evaluate the vegetative and productive development of the plants. It was observed that both glyphosate-tolerant and glyphosate-sensitive plants were affected in the initial stages of development in accordance with the herbicide application rate. However, whereas tolerant plants fully recover both in vegetative growth and production during the cycle, sensitive plants recover partially, producing smaller plants with lower yield as a consequence of the herbicide application rate.

No abstract

High quality seeds are required for soybean production. This study evaluated the effect of gamma irradiation and storage time on seed quality in soybean lines VX04-6828 and VX04-5692. Seeds were gamma irradiated ( 60 Co) with 0, 50, 150, and 250 Gy. After the first seed production cycle (M1), the harvested seeds were stored in the laboratory for 0, 2, 4, and 6 months. Moisture content, seed quality (germination rate, dead seeds, and normal and abnormal seedlings), and seed vigor (first germination count, germination index, and seedling length) were determined. Data were submitted to analysis of variance for each soybean line using a 4 x 4 factorial design (four storage times x four gamma irradiation doses). Response surfaces were constructed based on the F test significance (p ≤ 0.05). VX04-5692 seeds were more sensitive to gamma radiation than were VX04-6828 seeds. Soybean seed quality was highest in M2 seeds derived from seeds irradiated with less than 100 Gy and stored for up to two months. High gamma irradiation doses and long storage times reduced soybean seed quality. Key words: Germination. Glycine max. Gamma radiation. Vigor. ResumoSementes de elevada qualidade fisiológica são necessárias à produção e à comercialização da soja. Portanto, avaliaram-se os efeitos da radiação gama e do armazenamento na qualidade fisiológica de sementes das linhagens de soja VX04-6828 e VX04-5692. As sementes dessas linhagens foram irradiadas com 0, 50, 150 e 250 Gy de radiação gama ( 60 Co). Após o primeiro ciclo de produção (M1), as sementes foram armazenadas em condições laboratoriais e avaliadas aos 0, 2, 4 e 6 meses, quanto ao teor de água das sementes e à qualidade fisiológica, por meio dos testes de germinação (plântulas normais, anormais e sementes mortas) e de vigor (primeira contagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação e comprimento das plântulas). Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância para cada linhagem, utilizando-se o modelo fatorial 4 x 4 (quatro tempos de armazenamento x quatro doses de radiação gama). Com base no teste F (p < 0,05), foi realizado o ajuste de superfícies de resposta. As sementes da linhagem VX04-5692 são mais sensíveis à radiação gama que da linhagem Vx04-6828. Melhor qualidade fisiológica das sementes M2 de soja é expressa em doses inferiores a 100 Gy e armazenadas até 2 meses. Doses elevadas de radiação gama e longo período de armazenamento reduzem a qualidade fisiológica das sementes de soja. Palavras-chave: Germinação. Glycine max. Radiação gama. Vigor.

No abstract