Abstract

ACTIS, Marcos et al. Effect of drying and crop management on physical properties associated with kernel hardness in maize hybrids. Tecnol. cienc. [online]. 2022, n.44, pp.52-64.  Epub June 22, 2022. ISSN 1666-6933.  http://dx.doi.org/10.33414/rtyc.44.52-64.2022.

The effect of different drying treatments (natural, 50 and 70 °C) and crop management (without and with re-fertilization at pre-silking) on the endospermic hardness in four hybrids maize (AW 190, NK 940, Condor and Mill 522) was studied. Hardness was assessed by test weight (TW), percent floaters (PF) in NaNO3 and CCl4, and milling ratio (MR). The trial was based on a factorial design. Generally, high TW and MR values, and low PF values are associated with flintier maizes. It was observed that artificial drying (at 50 and 70 °C) decreased MR, increased PF, and did not produce major changes in TW, thus decreasing hardness. Cóndor (natural drying) and with re-fertilization (drying at 50 °C), Mill 522 (natural drying and at 50 °C) and in the control management (drying at 70 °C) hybrids achieved hardness values for 'Premium' quality. The techniques used allowed to classify the hybrids by their hardness and to evaluate the effect of the drying temperature on it.

Keywords : ’flint’ maize; artificial drying; test weight; percent floaters; milling ratio..