Influence of grain moisture at harvest on the maize seed germination

Abstract

Modern maize seed drying and processing technology is applied today to ensure high quality grain. The most important factor in preserving seed quality is the moisture content. The time of harvesting, drying, storage and seed conservation is determined by the seed water quantity. At the harvesting time, a lower moisture content is desirable due to seed physiological maturity as well as consequences that may be caused during seed drying. During seed storage, water in seed is maintained at the level of latency to preserve vital seed functions, for maize it is 13-14 %. Influence of different seed moisture content, during harvesting time, on maize seed quality were studied in this research. Two physiological traits of seed were observed: seed energy and germination. Material used in this research were maize hybrids ZP 434 and ZP 666. Moisture content during harvesting time was measured after drying and primary processing, two seed sizes were obtained. From the devided seed samples were taken for laboratory tests. Harvesting was done at different seed moisture content < 25 %, 25-30 %, 30-35 % and > 35 %. Maize cobs were dried in double-pass system drier with air temperature below 42 o C. Cob moisture is measured with moisture meter (Pfeuffer). Seed was divided into two fractions according to size using sieves with mesh sizes ranging from 6.5 - 8.3 mm and 8.4 - 11.0 mm. Seed energy and germination were determined in seed testing laboratory on working samples 4x100 seed, by standard maize germination test with ISTA Rules, and Rule on the quality of seed of agricultural plants. Experimental results were calculated on average mean and total variability ( X , SD i C.V.) for seed energy, germination and moisture content. The three factorial analyse of variance was calculated for both germination traits (seed energy and germination), for factors: hybrid, seed sizes and seed moisture content. The results of all factors and traits had different values. The highest means of seed energy and germination in both fractions of both observed hybrids were recorded with the seed moisture content ranging from 30 to 35 %.