Significance of agro-ecological conditions on trait formation of maize hybrid seed

Abstract

Traits of the F1 generation of maize hybrid seed were observed in four SC combinations produced in two locations. Agro-ecological conditions for the production of hybrid seed in these locations during three years differed. The coefficient of variation for germination energy and seed germination was 0.71% in ZP 341 during the first year. Produced seed of all observed hybrids was of satisfactory quality. The analysis of data shows that seed germination and energy (2.56% CV) varied the most in the hybrid combination ZP 434 in the three-year experiment. According to the location assessment, established differences in traits were greater, and the coefficient of variation for both locations amounted to 0.9≤3.21. The effect of agro-ecological conditions differed over locations during the same production season. According to obtained results, agroecological conditions have an essential role on the formation of traits of hybrid seed. Based on gained results, the level of expression of the two observed traits in all four hybrids was high under all agro-ecological conditions. Moreover, effects of the factors (hybrid and location) on germination energy and seed germination were high.