EXOGENOUS L-TRYPTOPHAN IMPROVES SEED GERMINATION AND AGING TOLERANCE IN GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERRILL

In crop production, achieving maximum yield potential requires the use of technologies, management systems and inputs to maximize optimal conditions, such as the application of certain amino acids. The present experiment was carried out with the use of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) seeds of cultivar LG60163IPRO from the 2022/2023 growing season, in a completely randomized factorial experimental design with two factors and four replications. The first factor consisted of either the absence or the presence of the accelerated aging test, while the second factor consisted of four doses (0, 0.01, 0.02, and 0.04 g) of L-tryptophan per kg of seeds. The seeds were sown in Germitest® paper and maintained in a germinator at a temperature of 25 ± 1°C. Evaluations were conducted for germination, primary root length, shoot length and seedling dry matter. The application of L-tryptophan in soybean seed treatment positively influenced germination, abnormal seedlings, root/shoot length, and total dry matter, demonstrating the beneficial effects of this specific amino acid for seed treatment. However, seeds subjected to the accelerated aging process, even with the application of L-tryptophan, were unable to achieve results similar to those of non-aged seeds.