EFFECT OF DRYING DELAY ON PHYSIOLOGICAL Q UALITY OF CORN SEEDS

Corn seeds were harvested with 16% and 21% of moisture content and dry ed for 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 84, 96, 108, 120, 132, 144 e 156 hours a fter harvest to verify the effect of delaying desiccation on germinati on and vigor. The results pointed out that to obtain seed germination over 85%, seed drying may be retarded up to 84 hours when seeds were h arvested with 21% of moisture content. The physiological quality of se eds decreased significantly when seed drying was retarded for more tha n 84 hours after harvesting seeds with high moisture content (21%). Th e physiological quality was not affected when seeds were harvested wit h low moisture content (16,0%) and desiccated up to 156 hours.