Osmotic conditioning in seeds of sweet maize under storing

Abstract

High levels of soluble sugar and low content of reserves in endosperm associated with the presence of soft pericarp are factors that contribute to sweet corn seeds show fast loss of viability and low uniformity of the density of the seedlings. The utilization of techniques using osmotic conditioning has been suggested to improve germination speed and uniformity. The present work aimed to submit sweet corn seed to different osmotic potentials using solutions of Polyethylene glycol  (PEG 6000) at -1.0 and -1.2 MPa for 0; 3; 5 and 7 days. After the treatment the moisture (%U), germination (%G), speed germination index (IVG) and electrical conductivity (CE) were evaluated. There was an increase of water content until the seeds balance with the osmotic solution. Higher values of germination were observed on the treatment using -1.2 MPa for 3 days.