Abstract
AbstractObtaining corn hybrid seeds (Zea maysL.) with high vigour depends on the parental lines and the direction of the cross, and this relates to seed desiccation tolerance and composition. This research studied reciprocal crosses between pairs of proprietary, elite parent lines (L1 and L5; L2 and L4) producing hybrid seeds with different qualities attempting to correlate vigour with seed composition, focusing on storage proteins, starch and soluble sugar amounts. Four corn hybrid seed lots produced from reciprocal crosses were compared (HS 15 with HS 51, and HS 24 with HS 42) by assessing germination, vigour, and seedling emergence in the field. Seed composition was assessed in mature, dehydrated seeds. Proteins were extracted, quantified, and analysed by electrophoresis and densitometry. Starch amounts were assessed using a kit and soluble sugars were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with pulsed electrochemical detection. The L1 and L2 lineages, used as female parents, provided seeds with lower vigour; however, the quantification of major protein bands, and sucrose, raffinose and stachyose were similar between seed lot pairs. While both total seed protein and starch varied between reciprocal hybrids for one of the two sets of crosses, the amounts of neither correlated with seed vigour. Interestingly, hybrids with low seed vigour (HS 15, HS 24) accumulated greater amounts of fructose relative to their reciprocal; correlation analysis confirmed these results. We demonstrate different effects on seed vigour dependent on the maternal parent in reciprocal crosses producing hybrid corn seeds. We also show that vigour is negatively correlated with seed reducing sugar contents.
Highlights
Hybrid corn (Zea mays) seed, the progeny arising from crosses of specific endogamic lineages, provides the possibility of producing seeds with high physiological potential, defined in this manuscript as superior seed vigour
This research was conducted using four dent corn hybrid seed lots resulting from reciprocal crosses involving four endogamic lineages (L1 crossed with L5, and L2 crossed with L4) of propriety, elite lines, the hybrid progeny of which were designated as HS 15, HS 51, HS 24 and HS 42 (HS: hybrid seed; the first number corresponds to the maternal lineage and the second is the paternal lineage)
A Pearson correlation analysis was performed between germination, vigour and seedling emergence in the field tests and the quantity of soluble sugars assessed by HPLC using three independent observations and two seed lots per reciprocal cross for a total of six points
Summary
Hybrid corn (Zea mays) seed, the progeny arising from crosses of specific endogamic lineages (true breeding inbred parents), provides the possibility of producing seeds with high physiological potential, defined in this manuscript as superior seed vigour. After 9 months of storage, the lots were evaluated for seed water content, germination, vigour (first count of germination, cold test, accelerated ageing and electrical conductivity) and seedling emergence in field tests, according to the procedures detailed below.
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