Physiological quality of soybean seeds produced under artificial rain in the pre-harvesting period

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate responses of soybean cultivars seeds (with different levels of lignin) considering harvest postponement under the incidence of water and the effect of storage. The experiment was conducted in Irai de Minas, Brazil using a randomized block design with three replications under a 5 x 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, with five soybean cultivars (NK 7059 RR, SYN 1163 RR, SYN 9070 RR, AS 7307 RR and SYN 1283 RR), three harvesting periods (R8, R8 + one rain simulation in the pre-harvesting period and R8 + two simulations in the pre-harvesting period) under three storage times (0, 90 and 180 days). Seeds were evaluated for their chemical composition (lignin contents), the percentage of moisture damage using the tetrazolium test and physiological quality (germination, accelerated aging, conductivity test, seedling emergence and emergence index). Cultivar AS 7307 RR had the highest lignin content in the integument, the lowest percentage of damage by moisture and the highest physiological quality. Cultivars NK 7059 RR and SYN 1163 RR had the lowest lignin contents in the integument and the highest moisture damage. Electrical conductivity increased after storing all cultivars.