Orientador: Sandra Cristina dos Santos Rocha / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T23:30:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pozitano_Marina_D.pdf: 3604129 bytes, checksum: 7fb79cd92222f6a6e16325ebc4f5fc10 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: No processo de recobrimento em leito de jorro, as características físicas das partículas a serem recobertas, a formulação da suspensão de recobrimento e as condições operacionais como vazão do ar, pressão de atomização, vazão da suspensão, temperatura do ar e massa de sólidos são parâmetros importantes que influenciam o desempenho do processo. Para o caso de sementes, o recobrimento pode ser utilizado para facilitar manuseio, transporte, semeadura, proteção contra ataques de insetos e na conservação de espécies para preservação do ambiente. Nesta pesquisa foi estudado o processo de recobrimento de sementes florestais da espécie Senna macranthera em leito de jorro e foram realizadas análises da qualidade fisiológica das sementes in natura e recobertas durante o armazenamento. As sementes desta espécie possuem dormência tegumentar, o que dificulta a germinação devido à impermeabilidade do tegumento. A quebra da dormência utilizada em sementes de espécies florestais tem por objetivo aumentar a porcentagem de germinação das sementes e uniformizar a emergência de plântulas, mas, sem a dormência, essas sementes podem não manter sua viabilidade por longos períodos e o armazenamento torna-se inviável. A primeira etapa deste trabalho envolveu a caracterização física das sementes, a definição das condições de operação do equipamento e o desenvolvimento da formulação da suspensão de recobrimento. Em seguida, as sementes passaram por quebra de dormência por imersão em ácido sulfúrico e foram recobertas com a suspensão polimérica desenvolvida. As sementes recobertas e a testemunha (sementes in natura) foram armazenadas em geladeira convencional, na temperatura de 5 ºC, para início do período de 380 dias de armazenamento. Os resultados da caracterização física para as sementes in natura foram: diâmetro médio de Sauter (3,4 mm), esfericidade (0,52), ângulo de repouso dinâmico (10 º), porosidade (1,81 %), peso de mil sementes (41,05 g) e densidades real, aparente e volumétrica (1397,2; 1371,9; 884,4 kg/m³, respectivamente). Para as sementes recobertas foram obtidos os seguintes valores: diâmetro médio de Sauter (3,7 mm), esfericidade (0,69), ângulo de repouso dinâmico (35 º), porosidade (4,30 %), peso de mil sementes (50,52 g) e densidades real, aparente e volumétrica (1397,2; 1337,2; 795,1 kg/m³, respectivamente). Para operar o equipamento foram definidas uma vazão de suspensão de 2 ml/min, pressão de atomização de 2 psig, temperatura do ar de entrada de 70 ºC e carga de sólidos de 450 g. A suspensão formulada foi composta por: Eudragit FS 30D® (30,6 g), trietil citrato (0,45 g), estearato de magnésio (2,25 g), dióxido de titânio (1,35 g), talco (4,6 g), pigmento rosa (0,15 g) e água (60,6 g). Após o recobrimento as sementes foram analisadas visualmente através das imagens geradas por microscópio eletrônico de varredura. Isotermas de adsorção foram determinadas pelo equipamento Dynamic Vapor Sorption para as sementes in natura e recobertas. Os resultados foram ajustados por cinco modelos de isotermas de sorção: GAB, Caurie, Oswin, Peleg e Smith. Para as sementes in natura, o melhor ajuste foi obtido com o modelo de Peleg (R² = 0,998), enquanto que, para as sementes recobertas o melhor ajuste foi com o modelo de Smith (R² = 0,981). Durante o armazenamento três grupos de sementes foram analisados: o grupo das sementes recobertas; o grupo das sementes in natura (que foram semeadas com a dormência tegumentar) e, por último, o grupo das sementes escarificadas, que corresponde às sementes que foram armazenadas in natura, porém, antes da semeadura foi realizada a quebra da dormência. Durante os 380 dias de armazenagem foram realizados testes de germinação, envelhecimento acelerado e grau de umidade, com periodicidade de aproximadamente 40 dias. Para o período analisado, as sementes in natura apresentaram média de grau de umidade igual a 9,25 %, enquanto que, para as sementes recobertas a média foi de 7,12 %. No final do armazenamento a germinação das sementes escarificadas e das sementes recobertas não apresentaram diferença estatística entre si. Para o teste de envelhecimento acelerado, as sementes escarificadas foram mais vigorosas em relação às sementes recobertas. As porcentagens de germinação e o vigor das sementes semeadas in natura foram inferiores aos demais grupos, pois a dormência tegumentar impediu a absorção de água, componente essencial para que a semente germine / Abstract: For the process of coating in spouted bed, the physical characteristics of the particles to be coated, the formulation of coating suspension and the operating conditions such as the air flow, the pressure of atomization, the flow of suspension, the air temperature and the mass of solids are important parameters that influence the process performance. In the case of seeds, coating can be applied to facilitate handling, transporting and sowing, to protect the seeds against insects and for the conservation of species to environmental preservation. In this work the process of coating of forest seeds of Senna macranthera species in spouted bed was studied and analysis of the physiological quality of covered and in nature seeds during storage were performed. The seeds of this species have tegument dormancy, which hinders the germination due to impermeability of the tegument. The breaking of dormancy in seeds of forest species aims to increase the percentage of seed germination and to uniform the seedling emergence; however, these seeds cannot maintain their viability for long periods and the storage becomes unworkable without dormancy. The first stage of this work involved the physical characterization of the seeds, the definition of operating conditions for the coating process and the development of the formulation of the coating suspension. Then, the seeds underwent to tegument dormancy break by immersion in sulfuric acid before being coated with the polymer suspension developed. The coated seeds and the control (in nature seeds) were stored in conventional refrigerator at a temperature of 5 ºC. The storage period was of 380 days. The results of physical characterization of the seeds in nature were: Sauter diameter of 3.4 mm, sphericity of 0.52, dynamic angle of repose of 10 º, porosity of 1.81 %, weight of thousand seeds of 41.05 g and real, apparent and volumetric densities equal to 1397.2, 1371.9 and 884.4 kg/m³, respectively. For the coated seeds the following values were obtained: Sauter diameter of 3.7 mm, sphericity of 0.69, dynamic angle of repose of 35 º, porosity of 4.30 %, weight of thousand seeds of 50.52 g and real, apparent and volumetric densities equal to 1397.2, 1337.2 and 795.1 kg/m³, respectively. Operating conditions were defined as: suspension flow of 2 ml/min, atomization pressure of 2 psig, inlet air temperature of 70 ºC and load of seeds of 450 g. The formulated suspension was composed of: Eudragit FS 30D®, triethyl citrate, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, talc, pink pigment and water. Scanning electron microscope images of the seeds before and after coating were analyzed. Adsorption isotherms at 25 ºC were determined for the coated and in nature seeds using the dynamic method. The results were adjusted using five models of sorption isotherms: GAB, Caurie, Oswin, Peleg and Smith. For the seeds in nature, the best fit was obtained with the model of Peleg (R² = 0.998), whereas for the coated seeds the best fit was obtained with the model of Smith (R² = 0.981). During the storage, three groups of seeds were analyzed: the group of the coated seeds; the group of the seeds in nature (that were sown with the tegument dormancy) and, finally, the group of scarified seeds, which corresponds to the seeds that were stored in nature, but, dormancy was broken before sowing. During the 380 days of storage germination tests, accelerated aging and moisture content were performed at intervals of approximately 40 days. For the period analyzed, the fresh seeds had average moisture content equal to 9.25 %, while for the coated seeds, the average was 7.12 %. At the end of storage, the germination of scarified seeds and of coated seeds showed no statistical difference. For the accelerated aging test, the scarified seeds were more vigorous compared to the coated seeds. The percentages of germination and the vigor of the seeds sown in nature were lower than the other groups, because the tegument dormancy impeded the absorption of water, an essential component for the seed to germinate / Doutorado / Engenharia de Processos / Doutor em Engenharia Química

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O feijão comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) constitui a alimentação diária da população brasileira, a maior parte da produção vem dos pequenos produtores de baixo poder aquisitivo inserido na agricultura familiar. Em Sergipe a produção de feijão vem caindo significativamente devido o uso de sementes próprias sem atender paramentos de qualidade fisiológica e sanitária. Assim o objetivo é analisar a qualidade fisiológica sanitária das sementes de feijão com e sem desinfestação provenientes dos produtores dos municípios de Tobias Barreto, Poço Verde e Simão Dias. Os experimentos foram realizados na Clínica Fitossanitária, Laboratório de sementes e casa de vegetação localizada no departamento de Engenharia Agronômica na Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Para análise fisiológica das sementes foram realizados, Índice de Velocidade de Germinação IVG (BOD), Índice de Velocidade de Emergência IVE (bandejas com areia autoclavada) e umidade (estufa a 105ºC por 24hs). Para análise sanitária foi empregado a patologia de sementes através método blotter test ou papel de filtro com congelamento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com 20 repetições em sistema fatorial 3x2 (3 locais e 2 tratamentos), as sementes analisadas apresentaram incidências dos fungos provenientes de armazenamento: Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., e os fungos oriundos do campo: Fusarium sp., Phomopsis sp., Trichoderma sp., Rhyzoctonia sp., e Colletotrichum sp. (seu índice foi baixo, mas a tolerância é zero). A umidade das sementes de feijão proveniente de Simão Dias está dentro dos padrões de qualidade para armazenamento, o que não ocorreu para as demais regiões. A germinação e a emergência apresentaram valores abaixo dos parâmetros recomendados para sementes de feijão. Provavelmente as condições fisiológicas favoreceram a incidência de fungos nas sementes de feijão. A má qualidade das sementes utilizadas pelos produtores da região Centro Sul do Estado de Sergipe, pode comprometer a produção.

<p>Aflatoxins (AFs) are highly toxic second metabolites produced by <i>Aspergillus flavus </i>and<i> A. parasiticus</i>. They are widely detected in cereals, spices, and drinks worldwide. Aflatoxin contamination of foods and crops poses a high health risk for humans and livestock. It is well known that environmental conditions and substrates could influence fungal growth and aflatoxin production. This study tested the effect of water activity (0.82, 0.86, 0.90, 0.94, and 0.98 a_w) and incubation temperatures (20°, 27°, and 35°C) on the growth and aflatoxin production of <i>A. flavus </i>and <i>A. parasiticus</i> on ground flax seeds and ground niger seeds. The effect of oil contents of ground niger seeds on fungal growth and aflatoxin production was also investigated in this study.</p><p> These two fungal species could not grow on any of the tested substrates with 0.82 a_w at 20°, 27°, or 35°C. <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> grew most rapidly on flax seeds with 0.90 a_w at 27°C and also 0.94 a_w at 27° or 35°C. However, on niger seeds, <i>A. flavus </i>grew best at 0.90 or 0.94 a_w incubated at 35°C as well as at 0.94 or 0.98 a_w incubated at 27°C. <i>Aspergillus parasiticus</i> showed the optimum growth on flax seeds with 0.90 a_w at 35°C, whereas on niger seeds, the optimum occurred on seeds with 0.90 a_w at 35°C and also on seeds with 0.94 a_w at 27° or 35°C. The optimum conditions for <i>A. flavus </i>to produce high levels of aflatoxins (270-299 μg/kg) on flax seeds were 0.90 a_w at 35°C; whereas, the optimum conditions for <i>A. flavus </i>to produce aflatoxin (203-278 μg/kg) on niger seeds were 0.90 or 0.98 a_w at 27°C and also 0.90 a_w at 35°C. <i>Aspergillus parasiticus</i> produced high levels of aflatoxins (284-365 μg/kg) on flax seeds under the following three conditions, 0.86 or 0.98 a_w at 35°C and 0.94 a_w at 27°C; <i>A. parasiticus</i> produced 200-384 μg/kg of aflatoxins on niger seeds under nine out of 12 tested incubation conditions.</p><p> Reducing mean oil contents from 35.2 to 10.5% of ground niger seeds had very little effect on the growth of the two fungi but significantly decreased their aflatoxin production under certain incubation conditions. On de-oiled niger seeds inoculated with <i>A. flavus</i>, only 13μg/kg of AFB1 was found on seeds with 0.94 a_w at 27°C; whereas, on de-oiled niger seeds inoculated with <i>A. parasiticus</i>, high levels of aflatoxins (245-345 μg/kg) were only detected under the three following incubation conditions, 0.90 or 0.94 a_w at 27°C, and 0.86 a_w at 35°C.</p> This study showed that the optimum growth and aflatoxin production by <i>A. flavus </i>and<i> A. parasiticus </i>were not identical and influenced by incubation conditions, including temperature, water activity, and growth substrates. The results of this study could help establish guidelines for post-harvest and storage conditions for oil seeds to prevent fungal growth and aflatoxin formation.

No description available.

Seeds from the desert shrub Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) are one of the only known natural plant sources to store a majority of its oil in the form of liquid wax esters (WE) instead of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and these oils account for ~55% of the seed weight. Jojoba oil is highly valued as cosmetic additives and mechanical lubricants, yet despite its value much is still unknown about its neutral lipid biosynthetic pathways and lipid droplet packaging machinery. Here, we have used a multi-"omics" approach to study how spatial differences in lipid metabolites, gene expression, and lipid droplet proteins influence the synthesis and storage of jojoba lipids. Through these studies mass spectrometry analyses revealed that WEs are compartmentalized primarily in the cotyledonary tissues, whereas TAGs are, surprisingly, localized to the embryonic axis tissues. To study the differences in gene expression between these two tissues, a de novo transcriptome was assembled from high throughput RNAseq data. Differential gene expression analysis revealed that the Jojoba Wax Synthase, which catalyzes the formation of wax esters, and the Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase1, which catalyzes the final acylation of triacylglycerol synthesis, were differentially expressed in the cotyledons and embryonic axis tissues, respectively. Furthermore, through proteomic analysis of lipid droplet proteins from lipid droplets of the cotyledons and embryonic axis, it was estimated that each of these tissues contains a different proportion of the major lipid droplet proteins, oleosins, steroleosins, caleosins, and lipid droplet associated proteins. The Jojoba Olesosin1, Lipid Droplet Associated Protein 1, and Lipid Droplet Associated Protein 3, were identified as potential lipid droplet proteins that could be important for storage of wax esters. The coding sequences of these genes were transiently expressed in N. benthamiana leaves individually, and with co-expression of Mus musculus diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2, and in all cases were able to induce neutral lipid accumulation. These data also suggest a Lipid Droplet Associated Protein 1 has a specialized role for wax ester accumulation in the cotyledons, whereas Lipid Droplet Associated Protein 3 may have a more generalized role for the storage of triacylglycerols. These differences in compartmentation suggests that the cotyledons and embryonic axis of jojoba have evolved tissue-specific sets of genes for neutral lipid assembly and lipid droplet accumulation. It may be important to consider this tissue context for genetic engineering strategies designed to introduce genes from jojoba into other oilseed crops.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Tech. Agriculture) -- Central University of Technology, Free state, 2012 / A series of incubation studies and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of EM seed treatments, at different application levels, handling techniques and soil conditions on germination and seedling vigour of selected cultivars of maize, sorghum and sunflower. Two incubation studies were conducted to evaluate the germination and seedling vigour of maize, sorghum and sunflower seeds treated with M-EM from three different suppliers, multiplied at two different ratios (1% and 3%) and diluted at three different levels (0.01%, 0.1% and 1.0%) compared to a control treated with pure water. Results revealed no significant differences under optimum germination conditions, while seedlings under cold stress indicated that M-EM treatments positively affected germination and seedling vigour compared to the control treatments. Two incubation studies were also conducted to evaluate the germination and seedling vigour of maize, sorghum and sunflower seeds treated with M-EM from three different suppliers, multiplied at two different ratios (1% and 3%) and exposed to the influences of irradiation and temperature fluctuation. From the results became clear that the correct storage and handling is essential in optimizing the effect of M-EM on seeds. Even though M-EM was exposed to irradiation and temperature fluctuation, M-EM still had positive effects on germination and seedling vigour. Pot experiments were conducted to determine the effect of EM as seed treatment, at different dilutions, on germination, seedling vigour and dry mass of maize, sorghum and sunflower at different planted depths. Germination were not affected by the M-EM treatment, while shoot length results indicated that seed treated with M-EM could have significant effect on seedling survival. A greater effect was visible on the shoot length of shallow planted seeds, than on deeper planted seeds. From the results no single company, ratio or dilution could be prescribed as paramount. To further investigate the effect of M-EM subjected to the influences of irradiation and temperature fluctuation; maize, sorghum and sunflower seeds were treated with M-EM from three different suppliers, multiplied at two different ratios (1% and 3%) and exposed to the influences of irradiation and temperature fluctuation and planted in soil. M-EM treatments only benefited the germination of deeper planted sorghum seeds compared to the control treatments. The shoot lengths of deeper planted maize and sunflower seed were positively increased by the M-EM treatments while also resulting in significant results for the overall shoot length of sorghum. The third pot study was conducted to determine the influence of EM as a seed treatment on maize, sorghum and sunflower planted in three different soils, namely: sterilized soil, soil treated with M-EM and Fusarium containing soil. Germination and seedling vigour results of the sterilized and M-EM treated soil revealed to be superior to that of the Fusarium containing soil. From the results was concluded that M-EM treatments will probably improve early seedling growth of maize, sorghum and sunflower compared to untreated seed and that M-EM seed treatment and a pre-plant EM soil treatment might assist seeds in unfavourable germination and growth conditions.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With growing concerns about current environmental issues, such as climate change, that affect ecosystems around the world, understanding ecosystem function is becoming increasingly important. In this study, I investigate the plant – seed disperser mutualism between an endemic scatter-hoarding mouse Acomys subspinosus and its Proteaceae plant counterpart Leucadendron sessile in the biodiversity hotspot of the Cape Floristic Region, South Africa. The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the seed selection and caching behaviour of A. subspinosus. First, I determined the seed selection strategy for dispersal and burial by A. subspinosus. Acomys subspinosus may exert stabilizing selection pressure onto L. sessile seeds by dispersing and burying medium seeds with medium hull-thicknesses. Small seeds were eaten in situ and large seeds left at depots. I concluded that the buried L. sessile seeds may have a competitive advantage when it comes to seedling establishment in a post-fire environment, since seeds dispersed by rodents in the fynbos, such as L. sessile, are much larger in size and therefore have more stored nutrients and rapid growth capabilities than seeds dispersed by other vectors. Secondly, I documented rodent dispersal behaviour over a full years’ time. Acomys subspinosus dispersal behaviour changed significantly over the seasons, which I attributed to a change in food availability as the year progressed. Acomys subspinosus buried seeds in autumn after mass seed drop but began to recover caches and consume seeds during winter and spring. The rodent switched to an insectivorous diet in spring. I propose that the A. subspinosus – L. sessile relationship is mutualistic during the year, but the relationship does shift in the favour of the rodent during winter and spring. Lastly, I address the scatter-hoarding behaviour of A. subspinosus and cache recovery ability of its assumed closest food competitor Rhabdomys pumilio. I found that cache size has a profound influence on pilferage rates of L. sessile seeds. Acomys subspinosus scatter-hoarded the majority of seeds singly in the field and R. pumilio had difficulties finding those single-cached seeds in dry substrate under controlled experimental conditions, serving as evidence that scatter-hoarding is an effective method of pilferage mitigation by A. subspinosus during the dry summer months. Relatively little was known about this plant – disperser mutualism and how it functions before this thesis were conducted. I have provided insights into the influence of rodent disperser behaviour on seed morphology development, seed fate and seed persistence in the field and suspect that the plant –disperser relationship may have a larger influence on ecosystem dynamics than previously anticipated. Further research on this system is of importance, especially with today’s emerging environmental instability and human interference that threaten the robustness of highly interconnected ecosystems like the fynbos. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met die huidige omgewingskwessies, soos die klimaatsverandering, wat ekosisteme wêreldwyd affekteer, word die begrip van ekosisteemfunksionering toenemend belangrik. In hierdie studie ondersoek ek die dier – saadverspreidingsmutualisme tussen die endemiese verstrooiings-storing muis Acomys subspinosus en sy Proteaceae plant eweknie Leucadendron sessile in die biodiversiteit 'hotspot’ van die Kaapse Floristiese Ryk, Suid-Afrika. Die hoof doelwit van die tesis is om die saadseleksie en storingsgedrag van A. subspinosus te ondersoek. Eerstens het ek die saadseleksie strategie vir die verspreiding en begrawing deur A. subspinosus bepaal. Acomys subspinosus het direksionele druk uitgeoefen op L. sessile sade deur mediumgrootte sade met medium saadhuiddiktes te versprei en te begrawe. Klein sade was in situ geëet en groot sade was gelaat by afgesette plekke. Ek het die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat die L. sessile sade wat begrawe is ‘n kompeterende voordeel mag hê wanneer dit kom by die vestiging van saailinge in ‘n afgebrande omgewing, aangesien sade wat in die fynbos deur knaagdiere versprei word, soos L. sessile, baie groter is en dus meer gestoorde voedingstowwe en spoedige groeivermoëns het, as sade wat deur ander vektore versprei word. Tweedens het ek die knaagdier verspreidingsgedrag oor die tydperk van ‘n jaar gedokumenteer. Acomys subspinosus se verspreidingsgedrag het beduidend verander deur die verloop van die jaar, wat ek toegeskryf het aan die verandering in voedselbesbikbaarheid soos wat die jaar gevorder het. Acomys subspinosus het sade begrawe in die herfs na grootskaalse vrylating en val van die sade, maar het gestoorde sade begin terug kry en sade begin eet gedurende die winter en lente. Die knaagdier het na ‘n insekvretende dieët omgeskakel in die lente. Ek stel voor dat die A. Supspinosus – L. sessile verhouding nie die hele jaar mutualisties is nie, maar eerder antagonisties, in die knaagdier se guns, gedurende die winter en lente. In die laaste hoofstuk spreek ek die verstrooiings-storingsgedrag van A. subspinosus en storingsverkrygingvermoeë van sy naaste voedselmededinger en deponeringsdief Rhabdomys pumilio aan. Ek het gevind dat die storingsgrootte ‘n beduidende invloed het op die koers van diefstal van L. sessile sade. Acomys subspinosus het die meerderheid van die sade gestoor in die veld en R. pumilio het die enkel-gestoorde sade in droeë substraat onder gekontroleerde eksperimentele kondisies moeiliker gevind. Dit is ondersteunende bewyse dat verstrooings-storingsgedrag ‘n effektiewe metode is om diefstal te verminder in die droë somer in die fynbos. Relatief min was bekend oor hierdie dier – saad verspreidingsmutualisme en hoe dit funksioneer voordat die studie uitgevoer was. Ek het insig verskaf oor die invloed van knaagdier verspreidingsgedrag op saadmorfologie ontwikkeling, die lot van sade en die tydperk wat dit begrawe is in die veld. Ek vermoed dat die mutualisme ‘n hoeksteenproses is in die fynbos en die invloed daarvan op ekosisteemdinamieka mag dalk groter wees as wat voorheen verwag was. Verdere navorsing oor hierdie sisteem is belangrik, veral met vandag se opkomende omgewingsonstabiliteit en menslike inmenging wat die robuustheid van hoogs verbonde-netwerk ekosisteme soos die fynbos bedreig.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:44:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_ricardo_miotto_ternus.pdf: 674305 bytes, checksum: 64aa2364d9c050f8dcd0998e6895e80d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-29 / Due to its economic importance, soybean (Glycine max) has been the subject of intense research aimed at providing information leading to higher yield gains. With in this context, the use of legal seeds is considered an extremely important tool for farmers. However, for several reasons, farm-saved seeds or informal seeds are regularly used by farmers. Aiming to evaluate the soybean seed usage rate in the state of Santa Catarina, identify reasons explaining the use of legal or illegal seeds, and providing guide lines for sanitary education and supervision by the Integrated Agricultural Development Company of Santa Catarina (CIDASC), a survey research was under taken polling 103 soybean producers from different regions of the state. Data were collected from 12/01/2012 to 03/29/2013 in 67 municipalities of Santa Catarina located in soybean- producing regions. The results obtained showed that the rate of legal soybean seed usage in Santa Catarina for the last three growing seasons was 71.9, 73.4 and 79.6%, respectively. Seed lots with low vigor and sanitary problems are the main criteria that guide the producer's decision to opt for commercial seeds. The high price of commercial seeds and acceptable crop yields obtained from farmsaved seeds explain the use of saved or informal seed in the state of Santa Catarina. / A cultura da soja (Glycine max), em razão da importância econômica que possui, é alvo de intensa atividade de pesquisa dirigida na busca de informações que proporcionem ganhos de produtividade. Neste contexto, o uso de sementes legais constitui-se em uma ferramenta de extrema importância para o agricultor. Porém, por razões diversas, muitas vezes, os agricultores utilizam semente salva ou informal. Com o objetivo de avaliar a taxa de utilização de sementes de soja no estado de Santa Catarina, identificar os motivos que levam à utilização de semente legal ou ilegal, e visando nortear as ações de fiscalização e educação sanitária da Companhia Integrada de Desenvolvimento Agrícola de Santa Catarina (CIDASC), foi realizada uma pesquisa de levantamento com aplicação de 103 questionários, em usuários de sementes, nas diversas regiões produtoras do estado. Os dados foram coletados no período de 01/12/2012 até 29/03/2013 em 67 municípios catarinenses localizados nas regiões produtoras de soja. Os resultados obtidos mostram que: a taxa de utilização de sementes legais de soja em Santa Catarina nas três ultimas safras foram de 71,9, 73,4 e 79,6% respectivamente; a substituição de lotes com baixo vigor e com problemas sanitários são os principais critérios que fundamentam a decisão do usuário em optar pelo uso de sementes legais; e que o preço elevado das sementes legais aliado a uma produtividade aceitável são os critérios que determinam o uso das semente salva e informal no estado de Santa Catarina.