QUALITY OF MAIZE SEED TREATED WITH VERY HIGH DOSES OF ALUMINUM PHOSPHIDE

Abstract

Phosphine gas generated from aluminum phosphide (AlP) is widely used in Mexico and around the world for pest insect control on grains and stored maize seeds, as well as a wide range of other crops. In the case of maize, due to the presence of insect strains resistant to conventional doses of phosphine, there is a need to increase doses to achieve the expected control even without knowing if there is damage to the physiological quality due to the increased dose of AlP. Therefore, in this study, trials were carried out in which mize seeds were treated with different doses of aluminum phosphide ranging from 0 to over 3000 g t^-1. Physiological seed quality was assessed by germination percentage, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity and moisture content. None of concentrations used caused physiological damage in terms of measured variables. Therefore, when required for pest control, higher doses can be applied without compromising the physiological quality of maize seeds.