Soybean is a globally important crop, especially in tropical regions, where its high productivity is linked to the adoption of advanced cultivation technologies. Seeds are key to this process, acting as the main vehicle for transferring innovations to the field. However, variability in physiological seed quality can affect uniform seedling establishment and crop yield. In this context, seed priming with potassium nitrate (KNO₃) has been studied as a technique to enhance germination by activating pre-germinative metabolism without root protrusion. KNO₃ acts both as a nutrient and a signaling molecule. This study evaluated the effect of priming with KNO₃ (0%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) on soybean seeds of high, medium, and low physiological quality. Seeds were soaked in KNO₃ solutions for 12 h, and several parameters were analyzed: root protrusion, germination rate, speed of germination, cold tolerance, seedling length, and shoot/root biomass. Results showed that priming was particularly beneficial for low-quality seeds, improving germination, cold tolerance, and biomass. Medium-quality seeds showed reduced germination at 1.5% KNO₃, while high-quality seeds responded positively in root biomass at the same concentration. In general, priming helped reduce physiological differences among seed lots, especially benefiting those with lower initial quality.

A dinâmica do complexo soja e milho tem liderado como as principais commodities do agronegócio brasileiro. Objetivou-se analisar a viabilidade econômica dos cultivos de soja e milho na safra 2018/2019. As culturas foram conduzidas em áreas distintas e avaliadas em 1 hectare. Foram aplicados os indicadores: receita bruta (RB), lucro operacional (LO), índice de lucratividade (IL), valor presente líquido (VPL), relação benefício-custo (R B/C) e payback descontado. As análises de rentabilidade demostraram a viabilidade econômica da soja e do milho verão, sendo o lucro operacional superior ao custo de produção. Os indicadores econômicos atestam a lucratividade das culturas, apresentando retorno a partir do 1º ano e relação B/C acima de R$1,00. Neste estudo, os sistemas de produção soja e milho foram viáveis na safra 2018/19, com maior retorno financeiro no cultivo da soja.

The proper establishment of plants is essential for the efficient use of resources such as water and light. Besides, even after seed storage and sowing the uniform establishment of plants is essential for their success. Crotalaria ochroleuca and Crotalaria spectabilis are important medicinal plants with poor seed germination rate, occasionally. The effects of seed priming in both C. ochroleuca and C. spectabilis were evaluated in seed performance even after seeds storage for up 90-days. Experimental assays were performed in a randomized design with gibberellic acid (GA₃, 100 ppm), polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000, -0.2 MPa) and PEG (-0.2 MPa) + GA₃ (100 ppm) solutions during seed priming in four replicates. Seeds not submitted to priming treatments constituted control. Seeds physiological performance were evaluated immediately and even after 30, 60 and 90-days seed dry-storage. The data obtained in each experiment were submitted to variance analysis (ANOVA) adopting a confidence level of 95%. The effects of seed priming with PEG and GA₃ during seed ageing were significant for germination variables of C. ochroleuca and C. spectabilis. During dry storage, seed viability of both species gradually decreased and the first symptoms were delayed seed germination, especially more evident for C. ochroleuca, even in primed or non-primed seeds. Afterwards, C. ochroleuca seeds previously GA₃ primed had higher results of root protrusion (86%), hypocotyls elongation (76%) and complete seedlings (75%) than non-primed seeds (control). These findings shown a good potential of hormopriming to attenuate damage during the seed aging of C. ochroleuca.

The high quality of soybean seeds is essential for the success of the crop, as it determines the field performance of seedlings. Seed physiological attributes are associated with genotype stability; thus, the maintenance of genome integrity is crucial to ensure seed quality. To evaluate the quality of soybean seed lots at physiological and molecular levels, a completely randomized design was carried out in four replications, with 12 soybean seed lots (cv. BMX Potência RR). Seeds were evaluated through standard germination and vigor tests. Genomic DNA was extracted from the root meristem of seeds from different lots with the Kasvi Spin 50 ^® extraction kit. The analysis was performed through electrophoresis and visualized under ultraviolet (UV) light. The Comet assay was also applied to investigate DNA damage. Soybean seed lots exhibited differences in germination and vigor, as determined by the tests of accelerated aging, field emergence, emergence speed index, shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh mass, and shoot dry mass. In seeds with low germination and vigor, DNA damage and genotoxicity were observed. DNA from samples with high germination and vigor observed by the field emergence and accelerated aging tests was more preserved than DNA extracted from seeds with low physiological quality.

Soybeans are widely used in agro-industrial sectors, and global demand for this crop continues to rise. After harvest, however, soybean seeds often lack the appropriate moisture content for storage, making drying a common practice under changing climate conditions. Because temperature is a critical factor during drying, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of air-drying temperature on physiological responses and cytogenetic conformation of soybean seeds. The experiment was conducted under a completely randomized design with four replications for each temperature. Seeds with 23 percent moisture content were dried in a convective dryer equipped with airflow and temperature control at 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C until reaching 13 percent. Samples for physiological and cytological analyses were collected before and after drying. The results indicated that drying temperature influenced seed performance and vigor. Moreover, nuclear alterations were identified as an important component of the genotoxicity caused by high drying temperatures. Overall, air temperatures above 50 °C induced physiological and cytogenotoxic effects, underscoring the need for careful monitoring during seed drying.

There is a growing global demand for the production of protein-rich grains and animal protein substitute foods. Like other pulses, mung bean is a worldwide crop exploitation due to its high protein content. Hence, high quality seeds are a prerequisite for obtaining high productivity. With the aim to identify the most appropriate stage for harvesting seeds, the development of the mung bean crop was monitored from flowering to senescence of the plants, in Brazil Midwest during two distinct periods, as March to July, 2022 and September to December, 2023. Physical characteristics such as length, thickness, width, fresh and dry mass, water content, and germination dynamic throughout seed development were investigated. At 7 DAF the seed water content right was 68% (wet basis, w.b.). Gradually, the water content of the seeds reduced and reached hygroscopic equilibrium (35%, w.b.) with relative humidity of air between 28 and 35 DAF. The maximum size of mung bean seeds occurs at 21 DAF, concomitant with the maximum accumulation of seed dry mass. At 35 DAF, the collected seeds in 2022 increased germination ability and showed 77% root protrusion, while the seeds produced in 2023 had only 44% root protrusion. The acquisition of characteristics inherent to seedling establishment was slower and to a lesser extent during periods of intense temperatures (September to December, 2023) compared to milder temperature conditions (March to July, 2022).