The experiment aimed to develop an alternative procedure to the use of 2,4-D in
the inhibition or retardation of rice and common bean seeds germination submitted to the health
test by the agar incubation method by utilizing the water restriction technique. The water restriction
of the substrates effects on the germination, radicle elongation and mycoflora present in the samples
tested of the seeds crops studied were evaluated by using sodium chlorite, potassium chlorite and
mannitol incorporated into substrates. The water restriction of substrates levels of -0.6 and -0.7MPa
were tested for common bean seeds, and -0.8 and -0.9MPa for rice seeds. The water restriction
effects were also investigated on mycelial growth of some fungi transmitted by rice seeds
(Drechslera oryzae, Gerlachia oryzae, Phoma sorghina and Pyricularia grisea) and common
bean seeds (Colletotrichum lindemunthianum, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. phaseoli, Macrophomina
phaseolina and Rhizoctonia solani), by using PDA amended with the osmotic solutes at the same
potentials tested in the health tests. The water restriction tested at all levels inhibited or retarded
germination and radicle elongation of common bean and rice seeds without affecting the detection
of the fungi associated with seeds of the samples examined. The water restriction levels used not
affect mycelial growth of D. oryzae, G. oryzae, P. sorghina, P. grisea, C. lindemunthianum and R.
solani. Water restriction at -0.7MPa induced by NaCl affected the mycelial growth of M. phaseolina.
The mycelial growth of F. oxysporum f.sp. phaseoli was larger in the treatments with agar-water
medium adjusted osmotically.