Division of Seed Science and Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110 012, India.
1 RRS (IGFRI), CSWRI Campus, Avikanagar, 304 501, Via - Jaipur (Rajasthan).
Maize crop can be grown both in kharif and winter seasons. Reid emergence is slow and poor at low temperature (winter). In such condition seed with high vigour will emerge fallier. In the present study seed vigour of maize parental lines was assessed using laboratory tests including growth and vigour parameters. Association of field emergence in winter and kharif seasons with each of these parameters was determined. Seedling dry weight, coleoptile length and vigour index (geermination 96 x seedling dry weight or coleoptile length) were found to be better indicators of emergence potential than other parameters evaluated in the present study. Hence, genotypes having longer coleoptile length, faster seedling growth and more seedling dry weight stands a better chance of emergence/survival under low temperature field conditions.
