Effects of packing and storage period on maize hybrid seed germination

Abstract

Effects of certain types of containers on maize seed germination after the three- and five-year period of storage were observed. Genetically stabe and reliable diverse material, i.e. seed of four parental inbred lines and two F1 hybrid combinations of maize was used in the present study Seed produced in 1992 was kept in the storage room in PVC, one-and three-ply paper bags. Seed germi­nation was tested by the standard method and cold test in 1994, 1996 and 1998. Germination varied over inbreeds and hybrids and both methods in dependence on types of containers. Obtained results show that the initial differences in germination among studied inbreeds and hybrids were maintained during the storage period and that the genotype is the most important factor of modifications. Moreover, the gained results indicate that the third variant of packing (three-ply paper bags) of seed of parental inbreeds and hybrid combinations was the least favorable after five-year storage.

Keywords

• maize
• parental inbreeds
• hybrids
• seed viability
• germination
• cold test