Foliar manganese in the health and lignin quality of conventional and glyphosate-resistant soybean seeds

Manganese may be associated with plant resistance to fungi, either through lignification or direct inhibition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the foliar application of Mn on the incidence of fungi and the levels of Mn and lignin in soybean seeds from conventional cultivars and their transgenic glyphosate-resistant derivatives (RR). The test was conducted at the Federal University of Lavras, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, using a randomized block design with three replications in a 4 x 4 x 2 factorial scheme, comprising four soybean cultivars, two conventional and their RR derivatives (BRS Celeste and BRS Baliza RR; BRSGO Jatai and BRS Silvania RR), four foliar dosages of Mn (0, 200, 400 and 600 g Mn ha(-1)) and two application stages (R-1 and R-3). Prior to, and after six months of storage, the seeds were subjected to a health test (Blotter test). The levels of Mn in the seeds and lignin in the seed coat were determined. It was found that foliar application of manganese affords a lower incidence of Cercospora kikuchii, Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus spp. in the soybean seeds produced. Foliar applications of Mn in the soybean, both at the R-1 and R-3 stages, translocates to the seeds, but does not affect lignin production in the seed coat. Levels of lignin in the seed coat of the soybean are lower in the conventional cultivars, Celeste and Jatai, in relation to their transgenic glyphosate-resistant derivatives, Baliza RR and Silvania RR.