The objective of the present study was to evaluate the health of maize seeds at different maturation stages. Three inbred maize lines, which served as the female parent to produce commercial hybrids, were used. Plants, which had shown 50% of their stigmas at flowering, were marked to determine the harvest time. Seed harvest began 40 days after flowering and occurred at 4-day intervals up to physiological maturity, which was determined by milk line formation. Seed health was evaluated by the blotter test. To determine the effect of seed health on physiological seed quality, germination and vigor tests (accelerated ageing and cold tests) were done. The results showed that maize seeds had a high incidence of fungi Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium sp. and Fusarium moniliforme, but microorganism incidence decreased as the physiological maturity point was reached. The fungi did not affect physiological seed quality.
harvest point; physiological quality; Zea mays; milk line
