Testing of maize inbreed lines seed germination in the soil

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present soil as a growing medium used in germination tests of seeds of some insecticide-treated maize inbred lines that have been carried out at the seed testing laboratory of the Maize Research Institute, Zemun Polje in Belgrade. Although soil is not recommended as a primary growing medium for seed germination because it is not included into standard methods, it is the most natural and the best growing medium for seed germination testing under laboratory conditions. Soil is recommended when seedlings show phytotoxic symptoms or when results of the standard germination test are uncertain. The standard method B(etween) P(aper) with 4x100 seeds and filter paper + soil method with 4x50 seeds were applied in the study in 2015 and 2016. Seeds were treated with the fungicide Maxim Xl and the insecticide Sonido. Soil used in the study was degraded chernozem taken from a maize field and prepared for the medium according to the standard procedure. Seeds were germinated in the germination room at the temperature of 20<=>30oC and 16:8 of light : dark photoperiod. The first count and total germination were recorded on the 4th and the 7th day, respectively, in both methods. Obtained results indicate that total germination for all maize inbred lines was greater in both years of investigation when filter paper + soil method was applied.