Physiological and sanitary quality of soybean seeds harvested at different periods and submitted to storage1

ABSTRACT RESUMO and harvesting is naturally a crucial one. Soybean seeds reach their maximum dry mass accumulation and maximum physiological quality at the R 7 stage (beginning maturity) (Fehr et al. 1971), time when harvesting should be performed. However, because of the high moisture content of the seeds at that stage, harvesting is performed at the R 8 stage, when 95 % of the pods are mature in color (Diniz et al. 2013a).In many cases, the ideal harvesting time is exceeded due to the vast extension of planted areas and insufficient harvesters, or due to high rainfall rates during the harvesting process. Therefore, seeds may remain exposed in the field for longer periods.Soybean seeds, when stored in the field, are subject to adverse conditions such as climatic 1. Manuscript received in Jun./2017 and accepted for publication in Sep./2017 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1983-40632016v4747576).2. Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul, Cassilândia, MS, Brasil. E-mails : alan_zuffo@hotmail.com, steiner@uems.br.3. Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Nova Xavantina, MT, Brasil.