Physiologic quality of sweet maize seeds according to thickness and width

Abstract

Sweet maize seeds present lower physiologic quality, when compared to regular maize seeds, due to the influence of several features, such as the seed size and shape. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the seed physiologic quality of two sweet maize cultivars (BR-401 and BR-402), separately classified according to thickness, by using slotted screen sieves (8/64” x 3/4, 9/64” x 3/4, 10/64” x 3/4, 11/64” x 3/4, 12/64” x 3/4 and 13/64” x 3/4), and width, with round screen sieves (17/64”, 18/64”, 19/64”, 20/64”, 21/64” and 22/64”). For each cultivar, sorted lots were compared with the unrated batch, following a completely randomized design, in a 2x7 factorial scheme, with four replications. The biometric parameters evaluated were sieve retention, 100 seeds weight and water content. The physiologic quality was determined according to the first counting, germination, cold test, accelerated aging, electric conductivity and seedling emergence in the field. The classification with sieves improved the physiologic quality of sweet maize seeds. Seeds with intermediate thickness, for both cultivars, generally presented greater vigor. Concerning width, larger seeds, for the BR-401 cultivar, and intermediate seeds, for the BR-402 cultivar, showed better physiologic quality.