Emergence uniformity and the time required for emergence are essential factors for obtaining highly productive potential in plants. Factors such as sowing depth and soil moisture affect uniformity and emergence, but little is known about the impacts of seed vigor. Thus, we determined the impacts of seed vigor on uniformity and growth as well as development and yield in soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) plants. The treatments consisted of four vigor levels (89%, 57%, 47%, and 43%) obtained by accelerated aging, in a randomized block design, with five replicates at three sites. Seeds with the highest vigor level showed higher uniformity and faster emergence. Dominated plants through their phenotypic plasticity modify stem diameter and internode length. The plants that emerged earlier had a larger leaf area in the three stages (V₁, V₄, and R₂), allowing them to accumulate more photoassimilates in the initial stages. Consequently, these plants exhibited an increase in yield components, especially in the number of fertile nodes and the number of pods per plant, making them more productive.

Nematodes are non-segmented invertebrate animals, which are one of the major phytosanitary problems worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, attacking the root system of plants they removing photo-assimilates and reducing the absorption capacity of water and nutrients of plant. In order to avoid economic losses by reducing productivity and quality, synthetic compounds have been developed to control nematodes. The use of these synthetic compounds, known as chemical control, has high economic importance, being the current tool most used by farmers for control of these individuals. Moreover, only in Brazil, the trade of these products reaches hundreds of millions of dollars per year. This review aims to address the fundamental aspects of nematode biology and the chemical control of the major genus (Meloidogyne, Heterodera, and Globodera). It covers the historical evolution of the chemical control agents since its beginning in the nineteenth century until today, their mode of action (fumigants and non-fumigants), mechanisms of action (inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, opening of the chloride channel, inhibition of electron transport in the electron transport chain, enzymatic inactivation, as a Dauer phase-inducing agent or agent that ensures the organism remains irreversibly in the Dauer phase), the products available for each crop, including their commercial names and forms of application.

Seed deterioration is an important topic in plant science, as the majority of cultivated species use seeds as their means of propagation; however, due to its complexity, the process of seed deterioration has not yet been completely elucidated. Three soybean cultivars (BMX Raio, BMX Zeus, and DM 53i54) exposed to four distinct periods of accelerated aging (0, 3, 6 and 9 days) in a fully randomized experimental design. Initially, vigor and germination tests were performed. The activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase enzymes, hydrogen peroxide, malonaldehyde, DNA oxidation, macromolecules and mineral content, and Maillard reactions were quantified in the embryonic axis. Results showed that DNA did not suffer degradation or oxidation. In terms of consumption of reserves, only sugars were consumed, while levels of protein, starch, and triglycerides were maintained. The Maillard reaction did show potential as an indicator of buffer capacity of protein to ROS. Additionally, levels of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase decreased during the aging process. Moreover, nutrient analysis showed that a high magnesium level in the cultivar bestowed greater resilience to deterioration, which can indicate a potential function of magnesium in the cell structure via reflex in seed aging through seed respiration.

Root system plays a crucial role in plants’ anchoring, water and nutrients acquisition and storage of carbohydrates. While it is understood that root system traits contribute to crop yield, little is known about the particular effects of root morphology over crop yield, even on major crops such as soybean (Glycine max). The objective of this study was to investigate if distinct soybean grain yield plants, grown at different sites, displayed differences in their root system morphology. This distinct traits in the root system should be responsible to the differences of yield, thus, showing which traits should be followed in breeding programs to develop higher yield cultivars. The soybean cultivar DM 5958 RSF IPRO was sowing in a randomized complete block design experiment. Treatments comprised three cultivation sites and five soybean grain yield classes. Plant emergence and root system morphology attributes were evaluated. Results showed that late emergence negatively influenced root development. A huge difference among sites over very thin (89%) and thin (85%) roots was found in the high yield class, and since the plants have similar yield, it appeared that the thin and very thin roots length have no impact on the yield, being influenced mostly by the environment. Forks and tips roots didn’t show a pattern. In contrast, roots volume only showed a 22% reduction, demonstrating to be less influenced by the environment, resulting in a greater correlation with the grain yield. Thus identified as the main attribute to be explored when seeking to select new soybean cultivars.

Seed treatment is widely adopted in agriculture due to its effectiveness in protecting seeds against pathogens and insect pests during early crop development. However, questions remain regarding the effects of the interval between seed treatment and sowing, and the suitability of substrates used in germination tests. This study evaluated how different substrates and short storage periods after chemical treatment affect the physiological quality of soybean seeds treated with thiamethoxam, metalaxyl-M, and fludioxonil. The experiment used a trifactorial scheme, considering the presence or absence of seed treatment, four periods between treatment and test installation (0, 2, 4, and 6 days), and different substrates for the germination test (germitest paper, sand, and vermiculite, individually and in combination). The analyzed variables included germination percentage, first germination count, shoot length, root length, total seedling length, number of roots, and total dry mass. Results indicated that short storage periods after seed treatment did not significantly affect germination and vigor, and substrate type had minimal influence on physiological quality. Although vermiculite promoted slightly greater seedling development, this did not warrant its routine use over traditional substrates. In conclusion, short storage periods after chemical treatment do not compromise the physiological quality of soybean seeds, and germitest paper remains an appropriate substrate for germination tests with treated seeds.