The purpose of the present research was to study the physiological seed quality of sweet corn as a function of water content at harvest time and drying temperatures of the ears. Experiments were made in the Agriculture School of São Paulo State University located in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Ears of sweet corn cultivar, BR 400 Super Sweet (brittle), were harvested at different times, starting at physiological seed maturity and submitted to different drying temperatures (30 and 40ºC) in an air circulation chamber. Field dried seeds, with 10.1% of water content, were utilized as a control. After drying, ears were shelled and seeds were stored in paper bags under laboratory environmental conditions. Initial water content of seed before and after drying was determined. Physiological seed quality for each harvesting date and drying temperature were analyzed before storage and six months after. The following characteristics were utilized: seedling emergency, speed of seedling emergence, seedling dry matter content, germination, first germination count, accelerated ageing, cold test, electrical conductivity and Ca, Mg, K and Na lixiviated from seeds in the water of the conductivity test. Seeds of the cultivars BR 400 (bt) with water content of 35% or less may be submitted to drying temperatures of 30 or 40ºC without loose physiological quality.
seed; sweet corn; drying temperature; moisture content
