SEED TREATMENTS WITH LIPO-CHITOOLIGOSACCHARIDES ENHANCE MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY IN BRAZILEAN ENVIRONMENTSWILSON STORY VENANCIO, PEDRO HENRIQUE DE MEDEIROS BUSO AND MARTIN DIAZ-ZORITAAbstract This work aimed to establish the contribution on maize (Zea mays L.) productivity of seed treated with a formulation containing lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) under field conditions in regions of Brazil. Five corn field trials were conducted in the Brazilian States of Paraná and Goiás. In each site, three seed treatments were established in combination with four chemical products (i) seeds without inoculation; ii) seeds treated with LCOs at planting; iii) seeds treated with LCOs 192 days before planting. Shoot and root vegetative growth and grain yield components were evaluated, and the data analyzed based on ANOVA and regression procedures. Averaged over 20 field trials, the use of maize seeds treated with LCOs promoted greater plant growth and grain production not only in response to more vigorous establishment of the plants but also keeping uniform and more active growth during their development. The mean grain yield response (390 kg ha-1), equivalent to 4.7 % more grain production, resulted from the combined effect of the LCOs on the formation and filling of the grains. |