It is of practical interest, when using different lots of seeds, to know the intrinsic physiological quality of each one. The objective of this research was to evaluate the physiological characteristics of the tropical forage legume, Macrotyloma axillare cv. Java (perennial horse gram) submitted to different methodologies to determine the physiological quality of three seed lots of this cultivar. The physical purity, 1000 seeds weight, germination test with and without scarification (GT) and vigour (speed of germination index (SGI), first count of SGT; electrical conductivity and accelerated aging) of three lots of seeds were determined. Differences in initial physiological quality of scarified seeds could be observed by the germination test. The results showed that: first count of
germination and SGI were not sensitive to detect differences in seed physiological quality of these three lots; accelerated aging of scarified seeds can be performed at 41ºC/ 72 hours or at 45ºC for 48 hours; the electrical conductivity test was adequate to differentiate lots of scarified seeds after 48 hours imbibition.