Water and salt stress in soybean seeds classified in different sizes

ABSTRACT The importance of seed size has been reported for many species, since it may affect seed germination and seedling vigor, especially under stress conditions. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of seed size on the germination and initial growth of soybean seedlings (M9144RR and M8527RR cultivars), under water and salt stress conditions. Water stress was induced by mannitol and salt stress by sodium chloride. The seeds were submitted to the germination test, first germination count and seedling growth to assess the effects of the treatments. A completely randomized design with four replications was used. The germination and vigor of soybean seeds decreased with the reduction of osmotic potential. There was no effect of seed size on germination and seedlings length. However, the seeds with higher size resulted in seedlings with greater dry mass, even when subjected to water and salt stress conditions.