The study of inbreeding depression is important for breeding strategies such as use of inbred progenies or extraction of inbreed lines. A diallel of 28 maize open-pollinated varieties was evaluated in 10 environments in the early 1990s. At the same time, S1 populations for each of the 28 varieties were evaluated in the same 10 experiments (environments). Yield reductions of the populations from S0 to S1 (mean of the 10 environments), varied from 34.6% (CMS-01) to 59.2% (CMS-30), with an average of 49.1%. Inbreeding depression was greater in populations with a wider genetic base, which had never been exposed to inbreeding (CMS-30, BR-107, PH4, Cunha, Saracura, Nitrodent, and Nitroflint). Inbred lines with greater yield means should be obtained from the BR-105, BR-111, CMS-01, CMS-03, BR-106, CMS-14c, and CMS-28 populations. The use of parameter estimates generated by analysis of inbreeding depression, allow to make inferences about frequencies of deleterious alleles in the population. The frequencies of favorable alleles in the parents can be obtained by diallel analysis. The association of these two types of information, can provide a better interpretation of the genetic parameters and also can improve the process of selection of parents for either an intra- or an inter-populational breeding program.

Visando ao estudo do uso de bordadura lateral em experimentos de avaliação de genótipos de milho-verde, testaram-se quatro arranjos para pré-especificar a disposição das linhas na parcela experimental básica. No arranjo 1, o estudo foi feito de forma que os efeitos convergissem para o centro da parcela. No arranjo 2, têm-se informações do efeito de bordadura de cada lado da parcela. No arranjo 3, as informações são obtidas em cada linha da parcela, e no arranjo 4, têm-se informações das linhas de cada lado da parcela em relação à parte central. Os dados utilizados foram provenientes de um ensaio de avaliação de 20 genótipos de milho-verde, coletados separadamente em cada linha da parcela, permitindo-se, desta maneira, utilizar o esquema de parcelas subdivididas. Os resultados obtidos possibilitam recomendar os arranjos 1 ou 2 para o estudo de bordadura lateral. Com relação à cultura de milho-verde, verificou-se que há necessidade de duas fileiras de bordadura lateral de cada lado da parcela.

In order to study the use of side borders in green corn genotypes evaluation experiments, four arrangements were tested to pre-specify the number of rows in the basic experimental plot. In the arrange 1 the side border study was organized in a way that the results should converge to the center of the plot; in the arrange 2, information was obtained about each side border of the plot; for arrange 3, the information obtained quantifies this effect for each row of the plot; and arrange 4 has provided information about the effect of side related to the central portion of the plot. For this study, data from a 20 corn genotypes evaluation trial for in natura consumption were utilized. Data were separately annotated for each row of the plot, thus permitting utilization of the split-plot scheme. In similar condition arrange 1 or 2 may be recommended for lateral border study, and for corn in natura consumption a two-row side border is required for each side of the plot.

A influência do tamanho de sementes de milho (Zea mays L.) sobre a germinação, o vigor e a produção de grãos foi estudada mediante a instalação de testes de laboratório e de um ensaio de campo. Em laboratório foram conduzidos testes de germinação, primeira contagem de germinação, envelhecimento rápido e cloreto de amônio. No campo foram determinados a porcentagem de emergência das plântulas, "stand final", número e peso das espigas. As análises dos dados e as interpretações dos resultados permitiram concluir que o tamanho das sementes não influenciou a germinação, o vigor e a produção.

The effects of seed size on germination, vigor and yield of corn (Zea mays L.) were studied by means of laboratory tests and a field experiment. The following tests were performed: first count of germination, rapid aging and ammonium chloride test. The effect on yield was determinated by means of a randomized block design field experiment. Analysis and interpretation of results showed that seed size had no influence on germination, vigor and yield.