The aim in this work was to evaluate the effect of the water stress induced by polyethylene glycol, in the physiological quality of seeds of fourteen hybrids of popcorn. For this, an experiment was carried out at laboratory in which the seeds were put to germinate in substratum of paper-towel, soaked with solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) in the levels of osmotic potential of zero (control) and -0.3 MPa. The physiological quality of the seeds was evaluated through the germination test (first counting and final counting), length of the primary root and aerial part of the seedlings and dry biomass of seedlings. The decrease of the water potential of the substratum is harmful to the germination, mainly to the growth of seedlings of popcorn. The decreases in the analyzed variables depended on the appraised hybrid. The hybrids G and K were the ones that showed to be more tolerant to the water stress, while the one of the hybrid M was more susceptible to the drought. The tolerance to water stress does not depend on the initial quality of the popcorn seeds.
Zea mays; polyethylene glycol; hybrids
