Effect of a Hydrophilic Polymer Seed Coating on the Imbibition, Respiration, and Germination of Sweet Corn at Four Matric Potentials

A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the effect of the hydrophilic polymer Waterlock B100 on the imbibition, respiration, and germination of seeds of the sweet corn ( Zea mays L. var. saccharum ) hybrid ‘Mevak’ at soil water matric potentials of -0.01, -0.40, -1.0, and - 1.5 MPa. Coated seeds had a higher final percentage of imbibition, higher rates of respiration, and germination at -0.01 and -0.40 MPa than uncoated seeds, but as the water potential decreased, the seed coating had a deleterious effect on the physiological processes leading to germination.