The influence of different types of seed injuries on its sowing qualities and corn hybrids yield properties

Abstract

Aim. Determination of sowing qualities of seeds, traits of growth and formation of productivity of corn plants grown from seeds with different types of injuries, development of recommendations regarding the suitability for sowing of seeds with microinjuries and macroinjuries of the endosperm and embryo.
Methods. Standard methods in plant production, seed and seed science. Seed germination was determined by the standard method and the cold germination method.
Results. The highest germination energy and laboratory germination rates of corn seeds were obtained in the variant with healthy seeds without traits of injury – 97 and 100%, respectively. Microinjuries of the embryo led to a decrease in the rates by 7-8%. Seeds with macroinjuries of the embryo (completely or partially knocked out embryo, completely or partially separated shell over the embryo) had germination energy and laboratory germination at the level of 44-47%, which completely excluded the possibility of using such material for sowing. Micro- and macroinjuries of the endosperm had almost no effect on the laboratory rates.
The results of cold-test studies in the laboratory and in the field showed that the highest indicators of laboratory and field germination were in the variant with healthy seeds 81 and 80%, respectively. The indicators of seeds with endosperm microinjuries were 4-6% lower. Microinjuries of the embryo led to a decrease in laboratory and field germination to 63-64%, and macroinjuries of the endosperm to 51-55%. The lowest indicators were in the variant with macroinjuries of the embryo and were 33 and 35%, respectively.
As a result of ranking grain yield data, it was found that the smallest impact on the formation of grain productivity of the hybrid Khortytsya was exerted by microinjuries of the endosperm and embryo, the largest by macroinjuries of the endosperm and embryo and for the embryo they were critical.
Conclusions. Thus, seed injuries had an impact on the indicators of laboratory seed germination, which was determined by both the standard method and the cold germination method, field seed germination, plant growth processes and the formation of grain productivity of the hybrid Khortytsya. Microinjuries of the endosperm and embryo had the least negative impact, and macroinjuries of the endosperm and embryo had the greatest impact.