The viability and the effect of two vehicles, water and a water solution containing noniphenol oxyetilate, isopropylic and polyvinylic alcohol, applied at different times during storage, on the seed quality was studied. Two experiments were conducted with seeds of soybean cultivars, Paiaguás and BR-16 produced in Pedra Preta, State of Mato Grosso and Ponta Grossa, State of Paraná, Brazil, respectively. The fungicides [g of active ingredient/100kg of seeds] thiabendazol (17) + thirarn (70); carbendazin (30) + thiram (70); carboxin (50) + thiram (50) were applied with the vehicles described above in the following dosages: 100ml, 200ml and 300ml/50kg of seed. Seeds were treated and analysed monthly from September through December, 1996. In another experiment, seeds were treated and stored for 30, 60 and 90 days before analysis and the results were compared to those obtained with seeds treated and analysed in December, 1996. Seed quality was evaluated by the germination, accelerated ageing, blotter and field emergence tests, with three replications. There was no effect of the dosage within the vehicles. Moreover, the frequency of significant differences in the interaction (treatment*dosage) within time of application was low. In general, no negative effect of vehicles was observed when these were applied alone. Fungicide treatments resulted in significantly higher field emergence independently of the vehicle employed. The treatment carboxin + thiram resulted in higher occurrence of bacteria, in laboratory tests, in both cultivars.