Performance of soybean seeds associated with a biostimulant based on the seaweed Lithothamnium sp.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33837/msj.v9i1.1757Keywords:
physiological conditioning, Glycine max L., physiological quality, beneficial microorganisms, coatingAbstract
Soybeans are one of the world's main crops, and Brazil leads the production of this oilseed, which has diverse uses. Evidence shows that seed treatment with nutrients and/or association with beneficial microorganisms can aid in germination processes and confer positive aspects to seed vigor. Products like the extract of the algae Lithothamnium sp., known for their richness in elements such as Ca and Mg, have been used to enhance the performance of economically important crops. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the performance of soybean seeds subjected to different methods of association with Lithothamnium sp. extract. The experiment had four treatments: seeds without association with any biologically active ingredient (control); seeds associated with Lithothamnium sp. through the physiological conditioning process; seeds associated with Lithothamnium sp. through the coating process; and seeds associated with Lithothamnium sp. through the physiological conditioning process followed by the coating process. Physiological conditioning was done with moistened paper and incubation at 25° C for 20 hours. In the coating, 1 g of biostimulant was used for 1000 seeds. Germination, seedling emergence, accelerated aging, and emergence speed index tests were performed. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized. The data obtained were subjected to tests of homogeneity of variances and residual normality. Subsequently, analysis of variance was performed, and the means were compared using the student-Newman-Keuls test at a 5% significance level. Statistical analyses were performed using R software. For all items evaluated in soybean seeds, there was an effect of the seed association treatments with the Lithothamnium sp.-based product. Coating soybean seeds with Lithothamnium sp. benefited final seedling emergence, emergence speed, and germination under stress conditions. Physiological conditioning followed by coating soybean seeds with Lithothamnium sp. impaired germination and seedling emergence.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Anderson Dias Vaz Souza, João Guilherme Moreira Xavier , Philipi Gabriel Soares Ribeiro , Milton Luiz da Paz Lima , Adriano Martins Barbosa, Erica Fernandes Leão Araújo
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