The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical, physiological and sanitary quality of corn seeds during conditioning. Sixteen samples of a corn seed lot hybrid D766 produced in 2001/2002 was used, classified as medium short flat and short round, from the screens 20 and 22. The seed samples were obtained during the following conditioning steps: reception, pre-cleaning, post-gravity separator, post-grader and after bagging. The seeds were evaluated for the moisture content, standard germination, first germination count, speed of germination index, accelerated aging, cold test, electrical conductivity, seedling field emergence, health test through the filter paper and injury test. The experimental design used was completely randomized with 4 replications and the mean comparison was made through the Scott-Knott multiple path comparison test at 5% level of probability. According to the obtained results it was concluded that mechanical injury can occur at any stage of seed conditioning and is cumulative and the corn seed conditioning may improve the seed lot quality in for germination, vigor and health.
Zea mays L; germination; vigor; processing; mechanical injury
