Yield and physiological quality of corn seeds after application of detasseling techniques in two cropping seasons

Abstract

Detasseling is an essential practice in maize seed production to obtain hybrids. Due the difficulty in carrying out the detasseling in a standardized way, the objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and physiological quality of maize seeds after using detasseling techniques in two cropping seasons. The experiment was carried out in Pitangueiras - PR, using corn progenitors of the commercial hybrid Balu 761. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 4 replications. The factorial scheme was 6 × 2, with 6 detasseling techniques: removal of the tassel only (D0); tassel removal + 1 sheet (D1); tassel removal + 2 leaves (D2); tassel removal + 3 leaves (D3); tassel removal + 4 leaves (D4); and tassel removal + 5 leaves (D5), and 2 cropping seasons: cropping season 1 (2014) and cropping season 2 (2015). The variables analyzed were: seed yield (kg ha-1), germination (%) and seed vigor from the accelerated aging (%) and cold test (%). The results showed that detasseling of maize progenitors of the Balu 761 hybrid must be carried out with the removal of the tassel only, considering that the removal of leaves during this practice is capable of reducing seed yield by up to 25%. The removal of the tassel with up to five leaves does not affect the physiological quality of the maize seeds. The cropping season influenced the seed yield, as well as seed germination and vigor from the cold test