In order to study the effects of various detasseling practices on seed development and seed production of maize plants, a trial was carried during three growing seasons. This work included five types of detasseling (manual, male-sterile, whorl pull-off, mechanical and control) and three genotypes in their fertile and sterile versions (lines A,B and the hybrid CMS 355). These treatments were combined in a 5x3 factorial design with four replications in a randomized block design. The variables evaluated right after the imposition of the treatments were: plant height, foliar area, and total dry matter. At harvest time ear height, ear index and seed production were evaluated. The results showed that, for field hybrid corn seed production, the use of manual detasseling or sterile-male are the recommended practices. Whorl pull-off and mechanical detasseling negatively affected seed production of maize plants.
source/sink relationship; partitioning; tassel; detasseling; corn; Zea mays L.