The objective of the experiment was to study the seed maturation process of sweet corn BR 400 cutivar (Super Sweet). The first seed harvest was accomplished 27 days after flowering (DAF), which was considered when approximately 50% of the plants presented female flowers. Other harvests were accomplished at seven day intervals up to 90 DAF. Immediately after the harvest, the seed was threshed manually, and the seed moisturety content and dry weight were determined; the presence of the black layer was also evaluated visually. After the last harvest, the physiological seed quality was determined by the following tests: germination, modified cold, accelerated aging and electric conductivity. Seed dry matter (mass maturity) reached the maximum at approximately 41 DAF and the seed germination and vigor (physiologic maturity) maximum occurred from 48 to 76 DAF. All the seeds presented black layer at 55 DAF, and this was an efficient visual characteristic for the identification of the seed physiologic maturity.
Zea mays; black layer; germination; vigor
