Hybrid corn seed quality and accelerated aging

The three crosses of hybrid corn seed used were single cross variety Tevada 77, double cross variety Pacific 11, and three-way cross variety Pacific 47. The seed were subjected to accelerated aging in nearly 100% relative humidity at 42, 43 and 44°C for 48, 72 and 96 hours at each temperature. Seed quality tests consisted of standard germination, speed of germination, conductivity, seedling dry weight, and seedling shoot and root length of the seed before and after accelerated aging. The aim was to investigate the quality and accelerated aging of hybrid corn seed. All hybrid seed had a high germination of 90-99%. Single cross seed had the lowest vigor followed by double and three-way crosses. Single cross seed showed a gradual and sequential reduction in germination and vigor as accelerated aging temperature and duration increased whereas the seed from double and three-way crosses showed a sharp reduction in germination only at 43 and 44°C for 96 hours. Speed of germination had the most response to accelerated aging. Accelerated aging increased conductivity of seed leachates, but conductivity was statistically different only in single cross seed. Data suggested that appropriate accelerated aging condition for the evaluation of hybrid corn seed quality in the humid tropics should be at nearly 100% relative humidity at 44°C for 96 hours.