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Solutions based on image analysis are a growing trend towards improving the quality of forest seeds. This study aimed to associate the information obtained through the processing of radiographic images with the physiological potential of Anadenanthera peregrina seeds. Ten seed lots from different mother trees were submitted to automated X-ray analysis to obtain variables related to seed morphology and tissue integrity. Then, the seeds were evaluated for their physiological potential through the variables germination, normal seedlings, germination speed index (GSI), seedling length, uniformity index, and vigor index. The results showed that there was a relationship between the variables obtained with the X-ray analysis and those of the physiological potential of the seeds. Most of the lots with low physiological potential had lower tissue density, circularity, and a higher positive skewness value. The X-ray technique can be considered valid to establish a relationship between the physical and physiological quality of seeds, however, it seems to be more efficient to identify seeds with low physiological potential.

Saflufenacil is a herbicide recommended for use in the main agricultural crops in Brazil to control eudicotyledonous weeds. However, the application of saflufenacil has been carried out without previous knowledge of this herbicide interactions with soil colloids, which may increase environmental contamination risks. In this study, the leaching of saflufenacil in soil samples was estimated with different organic matter contents. Therefore, PVC columns were filled with samples of Xanthic Ferralsol (XF) and Ferralsol (F), with different physical and chemical attributes. Twelve hours after herbicide (70 g i.a. ha-1) application, the PVC columns were subjected to a rainfall of 60 mm. For the evaluation of saflufenacil leaching, the columns were sectioned in ten parts with 5-cm each. Saflufenacil leached up to 50 and 40 cm deep in the samples, with the lowest contents of organic matter of XF and F, respectively. The increase in organic matter content of Ferralsol and Xanthic Ferralsol samples reduced saflufenacil leaching and the symptoms of intoxication in the indicator species. There was an inverse relation between the content of organic matter and the leaching of the herbicide in both soils studied. It was observed that the application of saflufenacil in soils with low organic matter contents may represent a significant environmental contamination risk of soils and watercourses. Saflufenacil é um herbicida recomendado para uso nas principais culturas agrícolas no Brasil para o controle de plantas daninhas eudicotiledôneas. No entanto, o saflufenacil tem sido aplicado sem o conhecimento prévio desse herbicida com os coloides do solo, o que pode aumentar o risco de contaminação ambiental. Por essa razão, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a lixiviação do saflufenacil em amostras de solos com diferentes teores de matéria orgânica. Para isso, colunas de PVC foram preenchidas com amostras de Latossolo Amarelo e Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo com diferentes atributos físicos e químicos. Após a aplicação do herbicida, as colunas de PVC foram submetidas à 60 mm de chuva simulada. Para a avaliação da lixiviação do saflufenacil, as colunas foram seccionadas a cada 5 cm. O saflufenacil lixiviou até a profundidade de 50 e 40 cm das amostras de solo com o menor teor de matéria orgânica, do Latossolo Amarelo e Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo, respectivamente. O aumento do teor de matéria orgânica em amostras de ambos os solos reduziu a lixiviação do saflufenacil e os sintomas de intoxicação da espécie indicadora. Observa-se que houve uma relação inversa entre o teor de matéria orgânica e a lixiviação do herbicida em ambos os solos estudados. Conclui-se que a aplicação do saflufenacil em solos com baixo teor de matéria orgânica pode representar um significativo risco de contaminação ambiental de solos e cursos d’água.