Multivariate index of soybean seed vigor: a new biometric approach applied to the effects of genotypes and environments

Abstract : The objective of this work was to apply a multivariate index of vigor in soybean seeds to identify the differential effects of the genotypes x environments interaction on the quality of the seeds produced in the 2016/2017 harvest season. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, organized in the factorial scheme, with five seed production environments x 20 soybean genotypes, arranged in four replications. The seed production environments of Tenente Portela - RS and Santa Rosa - RS soybeans are characterized as the environments that express the highest magnitude for seed vigor index, however biometrically Sarandi - RS has been defined as the optimal environment for the production of high vigor seeds according to the tested genotypes. High seed vigor index were expressed for the genotypes TMG 7161 RR, AMS Tibagi RR, BMX Magna RR, Fepagro 37 RR and NA 5909 RG. The differential effects of the genotypes x production environments interaction of soybean seeds influenced by more than 68% the vigor index of the seeds produced.