IMMEDIATY AND LATENT EFFECTS OF AIR DRYING TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF SWEET CORN SEEDS, BR 400 CULTIVAR
EDUARDO FONTES ARAÚJO, ROBERTO FERREIRA DA SILVA E PAULO CESAR CORRÊA
The objectve of this work was to study the effect of the temperature and relative humidity of the drying air on the germination and on the vigor of sweet corn seeds, BR 400 (Superdoce) cultivar, after 0, 4, 8 and 12 months of storage in cold chamber and in environmental condition approximately. After harvesting and threshing the seeds by hand, with approximately 17.7% of moisture content (wet basis), the seeds were submitted to the drying (four temperatures combined with four relative humidities) until, approximately, 11.5% of moisture content. After drying and during storage, they were evaluated by the germination, vigor and moisture content. The results showed that the temperatures of 50 and 60oC were harmful to the seed quality, mainly in the higher relative humidities. The cold chamber was efficient to seeds conservation, during the 12 months.
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