Effect of production environments on storage and physiological quality of maize seed

Abstract

Storage is a factor that can affect seed quality as a function of latent damages. The losses that most contribute to the reduction in germination and vigor during storage are those caused by humidity, mechanical and temperature-related, that may interfere with seed quality throughout storage. The aim of this study was evaluating the physiological quality of maize seeds produced in two environments and classified in different formats compared to storage periods. The experiment was carried out in the 2016 harvest in two cultivation environments: Entre-Ijuís, RS and Pelotas, RS. Seeds were stratified by thickness through sieves with oblong holes and stratified into small round, large round, small flat and large flat. Growing environments influence the physiological characteristics of maize seeds. The flat and large format seeds have superior physiological quality for the measured physiological characters. The small and round seeds present lower values for germination, first germination count, emergence speed index, shoot dry matter of emergence seedlings and shoot dry matter of germination seedlings. Corn seeds when stored under controlled conditions remain for long periods without causing decreases in physiological quality.