The anticipation of the commercialization of soybean seed in the state of Mato Grosso is a reality. This implies the need for reliable quick testing methods for seed quality evaluation, which will minimize and present future risks in commercialization, mainly when there is a complicating factor during storage, such as the case with seed that has chlorophyll retention. Changes associated with deterioration, and the consequent loss of vigor and germination are noticeable in this type of seed, and as a consequence there is the need to know the location and extension of these deteriorative points. Focusing on the objective of evaluating with feasible tests, that have the potential to determine the green seed quality, this study was carried out using: FMT-Tucunare, an early maturing cycle, cultivar 'EMGOPA 313', 'FMT-Arara Azul', and 'M-Soy 9350', with late maturing cycles, which presented 25,7%, 26,8%, 22,6% and 15,6% green seed, respectively. As a control, within each cultivar, there was a lot without green pigmentation, and a new lot with each treatment. The quality of the seed was evaluated in two periods (initial, may/2001 and final, November/2001) using the tests of germination, tetrazolium, emergence in sand, accelerated aging (24 hours and 48 hours), using tetrazolium to replace germination, plus seedling dry matter. In the tetrazolium test, the subclass WD 4-5 indicated deterioration due to weathering, the main physiological problem that evolves in green seeds during storage. In the tetrazolium test, that replaced the accelerated aging germination test, an exposure of 24 hours can be utilized in determining the quality of green seeds on the initial period of storage.
Glycine max; deterioration; chlorophyll; vigor
