Germination and vigor of soybean seed produced under different agro-meteorogical conditions

International seed trade considers seed germination as the main indicator of the seed quality. Different results of seed germination under laboratory conditions and emergence in the field encouraged the development of the concept of the seed vigor and the term of vigor. Seed viability or vigor presents a set of those traits that affect seed germination and the establishment of strong and healthy seedlings under different environmental conditions. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of locality and production year on germination and vigor of soybean seed. The testing was performed on 6 soybean varieties (Valjevka, Bojana, Balkan, Novosađanka, Vojvođanka i Morava) produced in the towns of Inđija and Vrbas in 2009 and 2010. The seed germination of all samples was determined by using standard laboratory and vigor tests (Cold test and Accelerated aging test). When the standard laboratory test was applied the seed germination of all tested varieties produced in 2009 in Inđija ranged from 78% to 87%, and from 94% to 99% in Vrbas. The germination of seeds produced in 2010 in both localities was higher in all tested varieties in relation to 2009. When the accelerated aging test was applied the germination of seeds produced in Inđija in 2009 was statistically significantly lower (67-85%) in all tested varieties in comparison to seed germination obtained by the standard laboratory test (78-87%). The seed germination obtained by the application of the cold test was statistically significantly lower (25-90%) for the seed produced in Inđija in comparison to the value obtained for the seeds produced in Vrbas (80-97) for both years of production.