Effect of different harvesting methods on the germination and vigour of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) seeds

Authors

  • Péter Varga Central Agricultural Office, Székesfehérvár
  • Tamás Berzy Agricultural Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (ARI HAS), Martonvásár

Keywords:

hybrid maize, harvesting, germination, vigour, seed testing

Abstract

The germination ability and vigour of the seeds of eight Pioneer hybrid maize varieties were examined in 2009. On the experimental plot the combine shelled the harvested ears, while on the control plot the ears were harvested intact. After preliminary cleaning, the seeds from the shelled and control groups were germinated. Some of the seeds from each group were divided into four fractions and analysed separately. The germination was carried out according to the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) Rules (2009), in four replications of 100 seeds, between moist filter papers in controlled climate chambers in four seed testing laboratories. The germination percentage satisfied the standard criterion (above 90 percent) in both the shelled and control groups, but the germination rate was lower for the shelled group, while the number of abnormal seedlings was greater than in the control group. The effect of harvesting intact ears on the seed quality was evident for two hybrids (PR35Y65, LSD0.1%; PR39R20, LSD5%). In the case of the various seed fractions, the lowest germination percentage was obtained for the medium-sized round fraction and the highest for the large flat fraction. The superiority of the control (intact ears) group was not manifested in all the fractions and no significant difference was found between the two treatments. The results obtained for the biological value of the seed were surprising. For one hybrid ears harvested intact exhibited the same superiority as recorded for the germination percentage, while for three hybrids the vigour proved to be better in the shelled group. For two hybrids little or no difference in vigour was observed between the shelled and control groups.

Author Biographies

  • Péter Varga , Central Agricultural Office, Székesfehérvár

    vargap@ommi.hu

  • Tamás Berzy, Agricultural Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (ARI HAS), Martonvásár

    berzyt@mail.mgki.hu

References

Barla-Szabó, G., Berzy, T. 1989. Application of Seed Vigour Tests for Corn Production. Georgikon for Agriculture. 2. 159–165.

Berzy, T., Marton, L. Cs. and Fehér, Cs. 1996. A frakcionálás hatása a hibridkukorica (Zea mays L.) vetőmag életerejére és szemtermésére. Növénytermelés. 45 (1) 19–26.

Bruggink, H., Kraak, H. L. and Bekendam, J. 1991. Some factors affecting maize (Zea mais L.) cold test results. Seed Science & Technology. 15. 729–740. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960258500000581

Burris, J. S. 1975. The effect of drying temperatures on corn seed quality. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 64. 487–496. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjps84-071

Eisele, Chr. 1981. Die Kalibrierung von Maissaatgut aus der Sicht der Aufbereitung und Vermarktung. Mais. 2. 6–7.

Ertseyné Peregi, K. 2004. A vetőmag fémzárolása, értékmérő tulajdonságainak vizsgálata. pp. 85–103. In: Izsáki Z, Lázár L (szerk.), Szántóföldi növények vetőmag-termesztése és kereskedelme. Mezőgazda Kiadó, Budapest

Fiala, F. 1973. Der Einfluss der Saatgutqualitat bei Mais auf der Feldaufgang und Ertrag. Jahrbuch 1972 der Bundesanstalt für Pflanzenbau und Samenprüfung in Wien. 98–117.

Gáspár, S. 1980. A csírázás környezeti szabályozása. pp. 164–180. In: Szabó L. G. (szerk.), A magbiológia alapjai. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest

Germ, H. 1966. Qualitatsprobleme beim Saatgut. Der Földerungsdienst. 14 (2) 43–48.

Hope, H. J. and Maamari, R. 1994. Measurements of maize cold tolerance during germination. Seed Science & Technology. 22. 69–77.

International Rules for Seed Testing Edition 2010, ISTA, Schwitzerland

Loeffler, N. L., Meier, J. L. and Burris, J. S. 1985. Comparison of two cold test procedures for use in drying studies. Seed Science & Technology. 13. 653–658.

Nijenstein, J. H. 1985. Effects of some factors influencing cold test germination of maize. Seed Science & Technology. 14. 313–326.

Mounsey, K., Moowrer, K. and Ghaffarzadeh, M. 2002. Combine Harvest of Seed Fields Lasting Alternative (Possibilities, Quality Concerns, and Improved Technologies). Agronomy Services. p. 51–53.

Nagy, L. 2009. Szóbeli közlés, Pioneer Hi-Bred Zrt, Szarvas

Odiemah, M. 1991. Relation of seed testing traits to grain yield of maize hybrids under different environments. Seed Science & Technology. 19. 25–32.

Pásztor, K. 1962. Különböző frakciójú magvakkal végzett összehasonlító kísérletek eredményei. Kukoricatermesztési kísérletek 1958–1960. Akadémiai kiadó, Budapest.

Shieh, W. J. and McDonald, M. B. 1982. The influence of seed size, shape and treatment on inbred seed corn quality. Seed Science & Technology. 10. 307–313.

Sváb, J. 1980. Biometriai módszerek a kutatásban. Mezőgazdasági kiadó, Budapest

Thielebein, M. 1958. Kornform und Saatgutwert von Mais. Mitteilungen der DLG, 47. 1261–1263.

Van de Venter, H. A. 1988. Relative response of maize (Zea mays L.) seed lots to different stress conditions. Seed Science & Technology. 16. 19–28.

Downloads

Published

2011-03-31

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Varga, P., & Berzy, T. (2011). Effect of different harvesting methods on the germination and vigour of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) seeds. GEORGIKON FOR AGRICULTURE, 14(1), 69-83. https://journal.uni-mate.hu/index.php/gfa/article/view/6781

Most read articles by the same author(s)