Germination of corn seeds with different levels of vigor in response to differents temperatures

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of maize seeds with different levels of vigor at different germination temperature. To this was used six seed lots of hybrid corn Balu-580 with similar germination potential, but different level of vigor. After the initial characterization of the lots, the effects of temperature were determined by first counting and the germination test conducted on paper substrate germitest, at 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37 and 40 °C. The data obtained in the initial characterization of the lots were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey test (p < 0,05). In the study of the effect of adverse conditions of temperature on first counting and germination was carried out the analysis of variance following a completely randomized design, factorial scheme 6 X 9. Low temperatures slowed the germination of seeds, especially those of low vigor, and there was no germination at 16 ° C. Lots of smaller effect were also more susceptible to high temperatures, with higher percentages of abnormal seedlings and ungerminated seeds.