Effect of specific gravity separation on the seed quality of maize (Zea mays L.) during storage.

Maize seeds of variety Megha were subjected to specific gravity separation for its refinement. The refined refractions viz. recovery, middling and rejection were packed in 8 kg jute bags and stored under ambient conditions. During storage, the physical purity, thousand grain weight, per cent germination and vigour index were found to be higher in recovery and minimum for rejections while moisture content was the highest for rejection as compared to all other fractions. The physical purity remained more or less constant throughout the period of storage. There was continuous decrease in per cent germination with the period of storage irrespective of the treatment. The recovery showed the minimum decrease in vigour index with the period of storage. The samples were kept insect free throughout the period of experimentation by applying timely fumigations. Specific gravity separator resulted in increase in purity by 1% while thousand grain weight increased to 15.7 g. Germination and vigour index increased by 6.13% and 308.5 points, respectively, where as the mycoflora incidence decreased by 19%. The grading resulted in improvement in overall quality of maize seed.