Abstract

GONZALEZ RODRIGUEZ, Felipe et al. Accelerated aging on the quality of maize seeds for alternative sprouted fodder production. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2014, vol.5, n.spe8, pp.1487-1493. ISSN 2007-0934.

The maize seed of good quality is strategic input to produce sprouts as an alternative fodder for animal feed especially in times of drought and prolonged storage, leading to loss of germinability and vigor according to genotype and environment. The study was conducted at the Conkal Institute of Technology in July 2011, accelerated aging was applied to three maize cultivars (País Tuxpeño, X'nuuknal and Sinaloa) for 24 and 48 h at 45 °C assuming 85 to 100% relative humidity in order to evaluate its effect on maize seedling germination and development in greenhouse, planting was in plastic trays with bovine manure as substrate. The evaluated variables: initial seed weight, average number of days to total germination, germination percentage, plant height, total fresh and dry weight, total leaf area, fresh and dry weight of root and shoot and shoot: root ratio. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks with 3 x 3 factorial arrangement with (n= 5) and Tukey means comparison (p< 0.05). The results showed significant differences between maize cultivars in all variables whereas the effect of accelerated aging times and the interaction of both showed significant differences only in germination percentage. The País Tuxpeño maize was more favorable to produce green forage for its viability and resistance to deterioration.

Keywords : deterioration; green fodder; substrate; viability.

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