The objective of this study was to evaluate pathogen incidence and vigor in different size classes of sweet corn seeds, after mechanical damage. Hybrid seeds 'SWB551' Dow AgroSciences® were classified by sieves with different sizes and forms (RG, RM1, RM2 and RP, with circular sieves of 8.7, 7.9, 7.1 and 6.4 mm of diameter, respectively, and CG, CM and CP with oblong sieves with dimensions of 8.7 x 19.0, 7.9 x 19.0, 6.4 x 19.0 mm, respectively). Seeds were submitted for impacts against a metallic plate in order to have different intensities of mechanical damage (0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 impacts) and stored at the temperature of 20ºC and 50-60% of relative humidity. The experimental design was a completely randomized with four repetitions, performing a factorial 7 x 5 (7 sieves and 5 damages intensities), totalizing 35 treatments. Seeds water content, mechanical damage (iodine dyeing), germination test, cold test and seed health test were evaluated. Variations in the incidence of pathogens among seeds with different sizes and forms were evidenced. Increasing mechanical damage did not favor increasing of pathogens incidence in seeds; however, it caused reduction on seed vigor.
Zea mays; seed healtl; Pungi
