Abstract
Native maize is a very important crop in Mexico, especially in rural communities, where it is a fundamental source of food and income; however, its germination potential is crucial to ensure successful production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the germination potential of three native corn varieties from Soteapan, Veracruz, Mexico. Seed samples were collected from different farmers in the region, and a physical characterization of the seeds was performed, including analyses of seed weight and length, purity percentage, germination percentage, imbibition kinetics, germination potential, and seed viability. The results obtained showed significant differences in germination potential (p ≤ 0.05), with 84 % for Tuxpeño white corn, followed by 76 % for black corn and 41 % for purple corn. This was reflected in the low or nonexistent viability, at 52 % for purple corn and 17 % for white corn. The highest purity was achieved with purple corn (97.52 ± 0.41 %), followed by Tuxpeño white corn (96.50 ± 1.08 %) and black corn (95.57 ± 1.09 %). It is concluded that Tuxpeño white corn had the highest germination potential, while purple corn showed very low potential.
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