EFFECT OF GIBERELLIC ACID ON PHYSIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF SWEET MAIZE SEEDS UNDER DIFFERENT STORAGE CONDITIONS

The seeds of sweet corn have high levels of soluble sugars and low starch content. These characteristicscan cause rapid loss of seeds viability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of seeds storedunder different conditions. The seeds used were a round shape super sweet maize of the cultivar SWB585. Seeds weresoaked in distilled water with gibberellic acid at concentrations of 0, 10 and 20 mg.l-1. After drying they were packedin vacuum plastic and paper packaging, and then stored in two environments (cold and room temperature), during fivestorage periods (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 days). The following tests were carried out: germination, cold test, acceleratedaging and emergence speed rate. Acompletely randomizedexperimental design was used, in a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x3 x 5 (two types of packaging, two environments, three doses of GA3 and five storage times), with four replications. Itwas found that the packaging did not affect the physiological quality. Gibberellic acid loses effect on seed performancealong the storage time. The vigor of sweet maize seeds decreases linearly over time of storage.