This work was carried out at the Seed Analyses Laboratory and in plastic tunnels at the Agriculture and Plant Breeding Department of the State University of São Paulo (UNESP), Botucatu-SP, with the aim to evaluate the effects caused by hydration-dehydration treatments on bean seeds physiological quality and also to determinate the tegument damages, caused by this process. Two cultivars were used: Carioca and Bolinha. The seeds were submitted to 0, 6, 12 and 24 hours of hydration which, respectively, reached four water content: 9.7; 11.5; 14.5 and 18.2% for cv. Carioca and 9.3; 10.8; 13.0 and 15.6% for cv. Bolinha. After the hydration treatments the seeds were dehydrated to the initial water content 9.7% for cv. Carioca and 9.3% for cv. Bolinha. The germination and vigor (first counting of the germination test) evaluations indicated that the 24 hours hydration/dehydration treatment, did not estatistically differ from controls, however it contributed for the improved Bolinha seeds physiological quality.