This research was conducted with the objective of removing discolored seeds of rice
seed lots utilizing a gravity table and to check the relationship between specific seed weight and seed
health. Five seed lots of the cultivar IRGA 416 were processed on gravity table CASP S-25. The discharge
end of the gravity table was divided in ten sampling positions. Seeds collected from each sampling
position were evaluated for weight of 1000 seeds, hectolictric weight, discolored seeds and seed health
(blotter-test). Hectolictric weight and weight of 1000 seeds were generally increased from the low to the
high side of the discharge end of the gravity table. Consistent relationships were observed between
seed weight and the discolored seeds. Discolored seeds decreased when weight and hectolitric weight
increased. Fungi observed in rice seed were: Fusarium sp., Phoma sp., Helminthosporium sp.,
Rhyncosporium sp., Alternaria sp., Curvularia sp., Nigrospora oryzae, Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus
sp., Penicillium sp. and Epicocum sp., however consistent relationships were found between Fusarium
sp., Phoma sp. and discolored seeds. The results indicated the following conclusions: a) it is possible
to decrease discolored seeds in rice seed lots utilizing gravity table, b) discoloration in rice seeds is due
mainly to infection by Phoma sp.; c) rice seeds obtained from high sides of the discharge end of gravity
table presents health quality significantly higher than seeds discharged from the low sides, however it
depends on the fungi infecting the seeds; d) gravity table improves physical quality of rice seed lots,
however high quantity of rice seeds have to go over again.