Assessment of the physiological potential of super sweet corn seeds

• Main Authors: Renata Oliveira Alvarenga, Julio Marcos-Filho, Tathiana Silva Timóteo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associação Brasileira de Tecnologia de Sementes
• Series: Journal of Seed Science
• Subjects: zea mays l.; seed testing; germination; vigor; primary root
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2317-15372013000300010&lng=en&tlng=en

The assessment of physiological potential is essential in seed quality control programs. This study compared the sensitivity of different procedures for evaluating super sweet corn seed vigor, focusing on the primary root protrusion test. Six seed lots, each of the SWB 551 and SWB 585 hybrids, were used. Seed physiological potential was evaluated by germination and vigor tests (speed of germination, traditional and saturated salt accelerated aging, cold test, seedling length, seedling emergence and primary root protrusion). Primary root protrusion was evaluated every 12 hours at 15 °C, 20 °C and 25 °C using two criteria (primary root protrusion and seedlings at the 2 mm root stage). It was concluded that the primary root protrusion test at 15 °C can evaluate super sweet corn seed vigor by counting the number of seedlings at the 2 mm root stage.