Studying the responses of corn seeds, this research verified the possibilities of
separating lots according to the physiological quality by detecting performance differences in
several vigor tests. Accelerated aging, cold test, seedling emergence, speed of seedling emergence
, germination (0, -2, -3 and -4atm) and root lenght tests (0, -2, -3 and -4atm) were conducted in 45
seed lots of hybrid AG 122, with statistically equivalent germination. The relative performance
estimated among the lots varied according to the test applied; thus, supportive criteria are required
to interpret the data found in a set of tests. The hierarchical classification of the estimated
performance by various physiological tests in a group of lots is simplified when the intermediate
lot is located; in that situation, the definition of lot groups with higher or lower vigor than the
average ones allows the identification of the tests providing the closest indications to that observed
in the set of tests.