Selection of corn (Zea mays L.) ears and seed thrashing: I - effect on physical quality and insect infestation

Abstract

This work had the objective to verify the effects of ear selection and of corn seed thrashing, on their physical quality and insect infestation. Seeds from four fields of seed production, grown in the 1985/86 cropping season were sampled and thrashed (by hand and and mechanically). The results obtained, showed that the seeds derived from the mechanical thrashing at the field showed higher occurrence of mechanical damage than those thrashed under controlled condictions. The selection of ears with corn husk, performed at the field, did not decrease insect infestation and did not to improve the quality of seeds.