Vigor Determination in Soybean Seed by Multiple Criteria1

A multiple criteria approach is presented by which vigor was evaluated in 16 lots of soybean (Glycine max L., cv. ‘Lee‐68’) seed by determining O2 uptake, CO2 production, uptake of labeled glucose or leucine, conversion of isotopes into 14CO2 and polysaccharides or proteins, and leaching of metabolites through membranes of excised embryonic axes after 5 hours of imbibition. The concept upon which this approach is based is that excised embryonic axes from vigorous seed lots take up more sugars and amino acids from imbibing media, incorporate these metabolites faster into polysaccharides and proteins, and permit less leaching of nonused metabolites into surrounding aqueous media than axes from less vigorous seed lots. These measurements focus on the biosynthetic capacity of the axis and the integrity of its cellular membranes.