Metodologia alternativa para condução do teste de envelhecimento acelerado em sementes de milho

Some vigor tests are routinely used by seed industry for internal programs of seed quality control. Then, it is requested the use of efficient methods to obtain quick answers to take right decisions related to the management, discard and trade of seed lots. This research was carried out in order to study the possibility to short the period to get the accelerated aging test (AA) results, using the tetrazolium test (TZ) instead of germination test (GT) to evaluate the seed performance after the seed aging. Tem corn seed lots were used, with and without fungicide treatment. The data obtained using the alternative method (AA+TZ) were compared with those determined by the traditional one (AA+GT). There was discrimination among seed lots using the traditional AA test and aging combined with TZ test. The corn seed vigor can be evaluate using the TZ test after seed aging instead of germination test. It allows similar results with the advantage of reducing the test period from eight to three days.