Seeds of ten bean cultivars (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were submitted to six levels of osmotic tension (0, - 0.2, - 0.4, - 0.6, - 0.8 e - 1 MPa) induced by polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000), with the purpose of studying its effect on the percentage of infected seeds and abnormal seedlings during the germination test, identifying the most tolerant cultivars. The experiment was carried out in a germinator with temperature and relative humidity control, making use of a neutral pH paper towel as a substract. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 10 x 6 factorial scheme with four replications, each one consisting of 50 seeds for the germination test. The results obtained have shown that the percentage of infected seeds increases with the PEG-6000 levels. In most cultivars, the abnormality increases with the PEG-6000 levels, until the concentrations of - 0,6 and - 0,8 MPa, with exceptions of cultivars 'Goytacazes' and 'Onix' in which the abnormality was always higher, increasing with the PEG levels. The cultivar 'Corrente' was the most tolerant to seed infection and to seedling abnormality. The most sensitive genotypes to seed infections and seedling abnormality were 'Novo Jalo', 'Jalo Precoce' and 'Goytacazes'.
PEG-6000; osmotic tension; germination; genotypes; tolerance
