The soil conditions where seeds are sown is not always favourable, as in saline or sodic soils. Some saline solutions may exhibit an osmotical potential more negative than the embryo cells, not allowing the necessary water uptake to germination. The germination lowering, in seeds submitted to water stress, is a function of the reduction in enzymatic activities. The aim of this study was to verify the differences between osmotical solutions of Mannitol, CaCl2, KCl and NaCl, over the germination and vigor of snap bean seeds, cv. 'IAC-Carioca-80SH'. Solutions of mannitol and CaCl2, did not show any differences between the variables analysed and both could be used as water deficit simulation solutions; however, KCl and NaCl solutions exhibited some toxicity to snap beans seeds and were not suitable for use as water deficit simulation.
Phaseolus vulgaris; physiological quality; water stress
