Due to their low starch content, sweet corn seeds are usually light and shrunken, thus making classification difficult as to size and shape, and causing difficulties in the sowing operation. A solution for this problem would be the use of seed coating techniques. The objective of this research work was thus to experiment with several filling materials, cements, and dyes in the pelletization of supersweet corn seeds and to determine which combinations of materials would be effective to maintain seed physiological quality after storage, and would allow uniform drop rate and distribution. Twelve filling materials were then tested (lime 1 and 2, kaolinite, activated charcoal, sand, vermiculite, corn flour, wheat flour, naturally fermented cassava starch, corn starch, celite, and diatomaceous earth) in addition to two cementing materials (mucilage glue and white glue - Cascorez® extra), and six dyes (gouache, acrylic, plastic, and fabric paints, food dye, and gelatin). The physical and physiological quality of coated and bare seeds were then evaluated by means of the water content test, fragmentation test, weight of one thousand seeds, apparent volume, plantability, paper towel seed germination test, first germination count, and plantlet emergence in the field. Supersweet corn seed coating provided seed shape and size homogeneity, improved pellet drop and distribution, and did not compromise plantlet emergence in the field after a 4-month storage period.
Zea mays; storage; pellets; plantability
