The present study was carried out with the aim of evaluating the efficiency of the seedling length test under water stress in the evaluation of the physiological potential of corn seeds and verifying its relation with seedling emergence in the field. For this reason, corn seeds from five commercial lots were evaluated by means of the germination test (first count and final count), accelerated aging, modified cold, electrical conductivity, seedling emergence in the field and seedling length test under water stress, using different levels of osmotic potential (0; -0.1; -0.3; -0.6 and -0.9MPa) in manitol solution. There was a significant and positive correletionship between the seedling length test under water stress and emergence in the field and the seedling length test under water stress to -0.9MPa was the best to evaluate the physiological potential of corn seeds.
Zea mays; germination; vigor; osmotic potential
