KERNEL GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF Zea mays SUBMITTED TO DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF ZINC

Abstract

Zinc, which is naturally present in soils, is derived from the weathering of its parental material and is essential for the good growth of plants. However, the levels of this metal in soils have been reaching high concentrations mainly due to the input of liquid pig manure, used as fertilizer. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of zinc concentrations on the kernel germination and the seedling growth of corn. We carried out an experiment in test plots sub-divided in randomized blocks, with cross-classification and three replicates. The kernels of the cultivar were divided into three lots with 12 replicates of 50 kernels each. Kernels were sown in pre-moistened Germitex paper. The water used to soak the three lots was added with different concentrations of zinc chloride (ZnCl2), so that the final zinc concentrations were 0, 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1. The rolls of paper were kept in germination chambers at constant temperature (25 °C) and the evaluations were carried out, for each treatment, on the fifth, sixth and seventh days after sowing. Zinc affected the germination percentage and the root size of corn, however, it did not affect the shoot size.