Métodos de despendoamento mecânico na produção de sementes híbridas de milho

Abstract

The maize (Zea mays L.) hybridization is the main process of seed production, in which the objective is the elimination of the male inflorescence of the female genitor plants so that the crossing occurs with the pollinators known as male genitors. Mechanical detassaling can be performed by pulling the tassels which is done by a mechanical equipment called Wheel Puller (tire) or by Cutter (slides). The objective of this work is to evaluate three different mechanical detasseling methods in corn hybrid seed production. The experimente was carried out in the 2016/2017 harvest in a seed production field in Indianapolis-MG and was evaluated three detasseling methods, which the treatments consisted of: T1 (“puller”), T2 (“cutter 2 times + puller”) e T3 (“cutter 1 time + puller”). It was measured: number of leaves above the ear corn, harvesting moisture, ear moisture after drying, ear corn weight in the field, ear weight after drying, shelling yield, shelled seeds weight, pre-cleaning yield, clean seeds for classification, and 1000 seeds. Treatments T2 and T3 had better results in number of leaves above the ear corn, which might have influenced in better results for ear corn weight and yield. Although there was no significant difference between treatments concerning harvesting moisture and 1000 seeds weight.