THE VIGOUR OF MAIZE SEEDS

As the seed is the only production factor realized by the agriculture for agriculture that can influence the productivity of the plants, we consider necessary to realize a study of the seeds vigour, one of the most important parameters of the seeds quality, determines the potential level of the activity and seeds performance or of the seeds lots during the germination and the germs development. The specific objectives of the study were to highlight the influence of factors such as seeds size, the integrity of the pericarp, the sanitary condition, their ageing state but also the storing humidity. The goal of this paper is to point out the importance of the seeds vigour, the causes of deterioration and the biotic or abiotic factors that can influence the vigour, but the tests of vigour.As a consequence of the study, we can state that all the transformations that take place inside the seed when the embryo passes from slow to active life, can be influenced by the size of the seeds as well as by their age and their storing humidity, but especially by the integrity of the pericarp and of the sanitary state, as a consequence their vigour will be influenced too. Vigour tests can monitor seed quality through every seed production phase from, harvesting, storage, conditioning, bagging, and planting. In some cases, such information can identify additional measures needed such as seed treatment (e.g., fungicides or seed enhancements).