ESTADO ENERGÉTICO DA ÁGUA NA GERMINAÇÃO DE SEMENTE DE SOJA 1

The water potential of the seed or seed parts provides a better indicator of the seed water status than water concentration. This study examined the imbibition process and the water status of soybean seed and embryonic axis during seed germination. Two soybean seed lots, cultivars BRS-157 and BRS-132, were tested. Seeds were hydrated between six layers of paper towel, inside a plastic box, at 25°C. Seed moisture content was determined by weighting samples of 100 seeds each during warter uptake process and, for embryonic axis and cotyledons, by the oven method (105 ± 3°C/24h). Seed water potential was measured by the hygrometric method using a thermocouple. The embryonic axis absorbs water faster than the cotyledons and reaches higher moisture content during germination. At the moment of the radicle protrusion the water potential of the embryonic axis is unique, independently of seed cultivar and physiological potential.