Longevity of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) seeds during low input storage under ambient conditions of southwestern Nigeria
Keywords:
Probit analysis, Seed conservation, Tropical seed storage.Abstract
Seed longevity of two commercial hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) varieties (‘Oba-Super’ and ‘Suwan-1’) were evaluated under simulated low-input seed storage systems typical of the tropics. Saturated salt solutions of ZnCl2, CaCl2, Ca(NO3)2, NaBr, NH4NO3, NH4Cl, and KCl in air-tight containers at 31±4°C provided relative humidity (RH) levels of 15.6, 28.7, 52.5, 56, 60, 75.4, and 80.5% respectively for storage. Monthly germination data for a 12-month storage period were analyzed using the Probit model. Survival curves confirmed a normal distribution pattern for most RH treatments. Seed longevity estimates (p50 or seed half-viability period and σ or distribution of seed mortality in time) were significantly different among the RH treatments. The two seed kinds equilibrating at 15.6±0.95 and 28.7±1.51% RH had p50 values of ~600 days representing a 10-fold increase in the estimates of seed longevity compared to seeds stored at >60% RH and 31±4°C (corresponds to the ambient microenvironmental conditions in southwestern Nigeria). Implicit in this are potential gains in seed longevity for dry and ultra dry seed storage under tropical temperature regimes.Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright © 2001-11 Kerala Agricultural University. Some rights reserved. This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Kerala Agricultural University and the following terms and conditions apply to their use; Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Permission may be sought directly from the Editor, Journal of Tropical Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture,, Kerala Agricultural University, KAU PO, Thrissur 680 656, Kerala, India. (Phone: +91-487-2438325; Fax +91-487-2371040; E-mail: editor.jta@kau.in. Derivative works Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal circulation within their institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations. Notice No responsibility is assumed by the Publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products, liability, negligence, or otherwise, or from any use of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein.