Articles
Seed physiological quality of sweet corn
Article number
1249_30
Pages
161 – 166
Language
English
Abstract
The genetic constitution of sweet corn is such that the grain’s endosperm is enriched with sugar and has a low starch content.
These unique features have contributed to low levels of seed germination and vigor when compared to regular corn seeds.
This work, performed at the University of Brasilia, aimed at investigating the efficiency of some seed tests in measuring seed quality of sweet corn.
In order to accomplish this, three seed lots were formed and subjected to the following tests: moisture content, percentage of germination in sand and in filter paper, individual and bulk electrical conductivity, accelerated ageing, and field emergence.
The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates.
The initial water content was uniform among the different sets of seeds, reaching values close to 9.0%. These values remained similar after the accelerated ageing and were close to 30%. Both germination tests, performed in sand and in filter paper, showed that the second set of tested seeds had the lowest percentage of normal seedlings.
However, the same set of seeds also showed the highest vigor according to the individual and bulk electrical conductivity tests.
The germination and vigor tests were efficient to evaluate the seed quality of sweet corn when the results of these tests are taken altogether.
These unique features have contributed to low levels of seed germination and vigor when compared to regular corn seeds.
This work, performed at the University of Brasilia, aimed at investigating the efficiency of some seed tests in measuring seed quality of sweet corn.
In order to accomplish this, three seed lots were formed and subjected to the following tests: moisture content, percentage of germination in sand and in filter paper, individual and bulk electrical conductivity, accelerated ageing, and field emergence.
The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates.
The initial water content was uniform among the different sets of seeds, reaching values close to 9.0%. These values remained similar after the accelerated ageing and were close to 30%. Both germination tests, performed in sand and in filter paper, showed that the second set of tested seeds had the lowest percentage of normal seedlings.
However, the same set of seeds also showed the highest vigor according to the individual and bulk electrical conductivity tests.
The germination and vigor tests were efficient to evaluate the seed quality of sweet corn when the results of these tests are taken altogether.
Publication
Authors
N.O.S. Souza, M. Fagioli, M.C. Pereira, D.A. Farias
Keywords
physiological quality, sweet corn, germination, vigor
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