This research was conducted in laboratory with the objetive to study the effect of saline stress in germination and vigor of ten soybean genotypes. Two experiments were conducted in laboratory. The first consisted of a combination of six osmotic potentiais (0, -3, -6, -9 e -15atm), utilizing NaCI as the solute and seeds from ten soybean genotypes: Doko, IAC 11, Savana, CR1, CR3, Cristalina, IAC 8, UFV 15 (Uberlândia), FT 11 (Alvorada) e Garimpo, harvested at physiological maturity, totalizing sixty treatments. In the second experiment, seeds 30 day overdue harvest maturity were used, and the other factors were similar to those described in the first experiment. The experiments were conducted in randonized complete block design with four replications, and the treatments were arranged in a factorial design (10 x 6) with a combination of ten soybean genotypes and six osmotic potentials. In both experiments, the seeds were placed in the dark for germination in a germinator, at 25°C, for seven days. After the germination period, the following parameters were recorded: normal and abnormal seedlings, seed with and without protrusion of the root, and seeds not germinated. In normal seedlings, also were evaluated the length of the root and hypocotyl as well as the dry matter weight per seedling. According to the results, it was concluded that: a) in higher concentracion of NaCI, germination percentagem was decreased with significant reduction for seeds with less vigor. The dry matter weight per seedling and the length of the root and hypocotyl were signicantly diminished at increasing levels of NaCl; b) there was a higher differentiation among genotypes for the seed vigor, in osmotic potentials of -9 and -12 atm; c) the saline stress showed promisíng as a method to evaluate the seeds quality of soybean genotypes.