Kernel Mass Research Articles

Reproductive Sink of Sweet Corn in Response to Plant Density and Hybrid

Improvements in plant density tolerance have played an essential role in grain corn yield gains for ≈80 years; however, plant density effects on sweet corn biomass allocation to the ear (the reproductive ‘sink’) is poorly quantified. Moreover, optimal plant densities for modern white-kernel shrunken-2 (sh2) hybrids are unknown. The objectives of the study were to 1) quantify the effect of plant density and hybrid on the reproductive sink of sweet corn and 2) determine optimal plant densities for white-kernel sh2 sweet corn. Field experiments were conducted across 2 years on 10 white-kernel sh2 hybrids grown at plant densities ranging from 4.3 to 8.6 plants/m2. Increasing plant density negatively influenced reproductive sink characteristics of individual sweet corn plants, including linear decreases in ear shoots/plant, marketable ears/plant, ear length, filled ear length, ear mass/plant, and kernel mass/plant. Reproductive traits varied widely among hybrids, including ear mass (15.6–20.6 Mt·ha−1) and recovery (32.3% to 42.4%), which is the contribution of fresh kernel mass to total ear mass. Hybrids had a common response to plant density, whereby ear yield was optimized at 5.5 plants/m2 and gross profit margin was optimized at 6.1 plants/m2. Plant density data from 586 growers’ fields suggest current seeding rates have optimized the reproductive sink size for today’s white-kernel sh2 hybrids. However, room exists for improving plant density tolerance, yield, and profitability.

Insecticidal activity of three diatomaceous earths on lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica F., and their effects on wheat, barley, rye, oats and triticale grain properties

This study aimed to evaluate insecticidal activity of three diatomaceous earths DEs, two originated from Serbia (DE S-1 and DE S-2) and one commercial formulation (Protect-It, Hedley Technologies Ltd. Canada) applied at rates of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg (500, 1000 and 1500 ppm) on Rhyzopertha dominica in wheat, barley, rye, oats and triticale grains and their effects on mass of kernels and several properties: adherence, hectolitre mass, moisture, protein and ash contents. Mortality of R. dominica adults increased with exposure duration and DEs rates. In all tested grains after the longest exposure period (21 days), 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg rates of Protect-It, and 1.5 g/kg rate of DE S-1 and DE S-2 (in barley) caused 95–100% mortality. Offspring reduction of ≥95% was recorded after the application of 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg of Protect-It and 1.5 g/kg of DE S-1. The lowest weight of damaged grain was found after applying 1.0 and 1.5 g/kg of DEs to all grain types, and the highest in rye and wheat treated with 0.5 g/kg DE S-1 and DE S-2, respectively. The highest DEs adherence of 83–95% was detected in wheat, and 87–92% in oats, and the lowest of 71–77% in rye and 59–73% in triticale. All DEs significantly reduced hectolitre mass of all grains, especially Protect-It, 3.6–8.8%. No negative effects of DEs were detected on moisture contents, and the contents of proteins and ashes in the grains. The changes were due to the activity of R. dominica.

Class-based physical properties of air-classified sunflower seeds and kernels

High oleic sunflower seeds, with higher oil content and greater oleic acid content than other sunflower seeds, are gaining in economic importance. However, there are still major gaps in knowledge concerning their post-harvest handling. This study was carried out, to establish a simply implemented method of classifying the seeds via air-separation, which allows rapid and precise assignment of high oleic sunflower seeds into different quality classes. Physical properties were evaluated and compared to earlier studies. A low hull to kernel ratio of 0.26 ± 0.04 was found, with seed masses ranging from 0.024 to 0.108 g. A high positive correlation between seed mass and kernel mass (r = 0.993) was observed but negligible correlations between seed length, width, thickness and mass were found. Seed mass analysis from the air-separation classes indicated highly precise (F1 score = 0.966) allocation into mass based classes, with below 5% false positives. Thus, a significant difference between hull to kernel ratio, bulk density, porosity, sphericity, the angle of repose, and rupture force in vertical and transversal orientation was found for the different classes. Rupture force in the horizontal orientation, true density and static friction did not reveal any class differences. Threshold values for air velocity where therefore established for air-separation that can classify seeds of different qualities and optimise postharvest seed handling operations.

Growth regulator and maize response to the increase in plant density

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of application of the growth regulator Trinexapac-ethyl on maize response to the increase in plant density at two sowing dates. A field experiment was carried out in the municipality of Lages, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, during the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 growing seasons. Two sowing dates (10/15 - preferential, and 12/5 - late), four plant densities (5, 7, 9, and 11 plants m-2), with and without Trinexapac-ethyl application, were tested. The growth regulator was sprayed at a rate of 150 g a.i. ha-1, when hybrid P30F53YH was at the V5 and V10 growth stages. The spraying of Trinexapac-ethyl decreased the stem length above the ear insertion node at both growing seasons. Grain yield ranged from 11,422 to 14,805 kg ha-1, and increased in a quadratic way with the increment in plant density. The highest yields were reached when maize was sown in October. The spraying of Trinexapac-ethyl did not affect grain yield, but decreased the 1,000 kernels mass at both sowing dates. The use of Trinexapac-ethyl does not enhance grain yield of maize hybrid P30F53YH at crowded stands in response to the densification, regardless of sowing time.

Chilling damage comprehensive assessment methods for rice.

Based on the grey correlation analysis method, the chilling damage inducing factors and yield structure traits of rice in different growth stages, and the yield structure traits and final yield of rice were regarded as two grey systems. By seeking the grey relations of the grey systems and using the multi level grey correlation analysis method, the comprehensive assessment model of rice chil-ling damage was constructed, and the comprehensive assessment indices of chilling damages in sepa rate stages were established. The rice chilling damages at 27 stations in Northeast China from 1961 to 2015 were assessed separately. The results showed that there was a good corresponding relationship between the chilling damage and the rice yield. The low temperature during the vegetative growth stage, the vegetative growth and reproductive stage, the pollination stage or the grain filling stage significantly decreased the panicle number per plant, the average panicle grain number or the thousand kernel mass, and increased the empty grain rate. A good correspondence existed between temperature and rice yield in the typical chilling damage years.

Grain Yield and Nitrogen Accumulation in Maize Hybrids Released during 1934 to 2013 in the US Midwest

Nitrogen (N) application in maize (Zea mays L.) reached a maximum of 145 kg N ha−1 in the US Midwest in 1975. Grain yield has continued to increase at a rate of 111 kg ha−1 yr−1, implying an improvement in N efficiency. Our objective was to measure the rate of genetic gain and the traits that contributed to the observed N efficiency for a set of DuPont Pioneer hybrids released between the era decades (ERA) of 1934 to 2013. These hybrids represent the most widely sold hybrids (by volume) in each ERA. A randomized complete block experiment in a split‐plot arrangement was conducted at Sciota, IL, and Marion, IA, during 2013 and 2014, with plant densities of 39,500 and 79,000 plants ha−1 as the whole plot, respectively, and 47 ERA hybrids as the split plot. This experiment was grown in a low‐N (56 kg N ha−1) block and in a high‐N (>200 kg N ha−1) block at each location. Grain yield increased at an average rate of 109 kg ha−1 yr−1 from 1934 to 2013. Partial factor productivity increased from 13.8 in 1934 to 55 kg grain kg applied N−1 in 2013 under high‐N conditions and 79,000 plants ha−1. Traits associated with yield improvement without increasing N application were (i) greater synchrony in floral development, (ii) reduced concentration of grain N, (iii) increased specific leaf nitrogen, (iv) increased kernel number per ear (KPE), and (v) increased kernel mass. Breeding efforts that select for increased KPE under increased plant density should increase yield, and this yield increase could partially be supported through greater postanthesis N remobilization from vegetative tissue without requiring greater N application.

Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Lead to Increased Cashew Kernel Size and Kernel Quality.

Weaver ants, Oecophylla spp., are known to positively affect cashew, Anacardium occidentale L., raw nut yield, but their effects on the kernels have not been reported. We compared nut size and the proportion of marketable kernels between raw nuts collected from trees with and without ants. Raw nuts collected from trees with weaver ants were 2.9% larger than nuts from control trees (i.e., without weaver ants), leading to 14% higher proportion of marketable kernels. On trees with ants, the kernel: raw nut ratio from nuts damaged by formic acid was 4.8% lower compared with nondamaged nuts from the same trees. Weaver ants provided three benefits to cashew production by increasing yields, yielding larger nuts, and by producing greater proportions of marketable kernel mass.

Corn Hybrid Response to In‐Furrow Starter Fertilizer as Affected by Planting Date

Use of in‐furrow starter fertilizer (IFSF) is common in the Upper Midwest to enhance early‐season corn (Zea mays L.) growth because of cold soils in the early spring which limit P uptake by corn. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic and economic responses of corn to IFSF and how this was affected by planting date (PD) for hybrids of contrasting relative maturity (RM). A 3‐yr experiment was conducted in 2010 to 2012 at two locations in southern Minnesota which evaluated IFSF at 0 and 65 kg ha−1 of 100–150–0 (g kg−1 N–P–K) with three corn hybrids (94‐, 99‐, and 104‐d RM) planted on three dates spaced on 10‐ to 16‐d intervals. Delaying PD resulted in greater corn plant density, grain moisture at harvest, and kernel m−2, and decreased early‐season plant height, days to silking, kernel mass, and corn grain yield. Planting a later‐RM hybrid resulted in greater early‐season plant height, days to silking, grain moisture at harvest, kernel mass, and biomass and grain yield. In‐furrow starter fertilizer increased early‐season plant height and kernel mass and decreased days to silking, grain moisture at harvest, and kernel m−2. Economic net return to grain production was not affected by IFSF. Results from this study confirm that planting mid‐ to late‐RM hybrids during late April to mid‐May produces greatest net return in the Upper Midwest, and that the response of grain yield to IFSF is not affected by PD for hybrids of differing RM.Core Ideas A P‐based starter fertilizer applied in‐furrow increased early corn growth and decreased grain moisture at harvest, but did not increase grain yield on soils testing medium to high in P. Corn hybrids later in relative maturity and earlier planting increased economic net return. Net return per hectare was not increased when in‐furrow starter fertilizer was utilized on medium to high P‐testing soils. A small reduction in grain moisture at harvest can reduce grain drying expenses to offset the cost of in‐furrow starter fertilizer. The likelihood of a profitable economic net return to in‐furrow starter fertilizer is not affected by corn planting date or hybrid relative maturity.

Organic selection may improve yield efficiency in spring wheat: A preliminary analysis.

Organic spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding programs have been initiated, yet yield efficiency and N economy research is limited. We evaluated the performance of advanced lines selected from an organic breeding program initiated in 2003. Fourteen F8 and F9 lines in 2009 and 11 lines in 2010 were compared with commercial (check) cultivars. Field experiments were conducted under organic management at four site–years in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Combined analysis showed no difference in biomass accumulation between organic lines and check cultivars; however, harvest index and grain yield were greater in organic lines compared with the checks. Organic lines were shorter than check cultivars, but yield efficiency, defined as kernel number per unit of crop biomass at anthesis, was higher (P < 0.05). Kernel mass was also greater for organic lines. Biomass N uptake was similar for organic lines and check cultivars, although total uptake of N into grain was greater for organic lines. The average grain pr...

Physical properties of the African walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) from Nigeria

AbstractIn this research about 1,700 samples of the African walnut (Tetracarpidium conophorum) were measured for their axial dimensions, mass, geometric mean, sphericity index, surface area, aspect ratios, angle of repose on steel, wood and glass, porosity, bulk and true density of the nut, kernel and shell at five moisture levels and three size ranges. Various equations linking the nut moisture content with other physical properties for nut and kernel were established using regression models. The studies showed that at initial moisture content of 28.2% w.b, the African wild walnut fall mostly within the mass (m) range of 5.5 ≤ m ≤ 6.5 g with shell thicknes of 0. 135 ± 0.04 cm, kernel mass of 4.22 ± 0.26 g, kernel moisture content of 28.9% w.b, porosity of 45%, nut true density of 0.815 g/cm3, nut bulk density of 0.45 g/cm3, nut aspect ratio of 76% and nut surface area of 15.41 cm2. This various properties are affected by increase in moisture contents and change in nut mass.

Determination of Some Physical Properties of Rapeseed

Rapeseeds ( Brassica napus oleifera L.) were analyzed for some physical properties production in Kirklareli province. Also some physical properties of rapeseed such as seed moisture content, length, diameter, mass of single seed, thousand seed mass, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, seed volume, density, accumulation angle and friction coefficient have been determined. Kernel moisture, thousand kernel mass, plant length, plant stem diameter, yield of the harvested crop were determined as 8.34 %, 4.74 g, 158.2 cm, 8.10 mm, 3204 kg/ha, respectively. Length, diameter, mass of single kernel, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, bulk density, accumulation angle and friction coefficient were found as 2.35 mm, 1.93 mm, 0.0047g, 2.07 mm, 0.88, 5.07 mm 3 , 617 kg/m 3 , 29 0 , 0.318 (on galvanized sheet), 0.288 (stainless steel), 0.305 (aluminium), respectively.

Yield and yield traits of durum wheat (Triticum durum desf.) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes under drought stress

Field experiment was conducted to study the effect of water stress on yield and yield traits of durum wheat and bread wheat genotypes. Water stress caused significant reduction in plant height (PH), peduncle length (PL), spike number/m2(SN), spike length (SL), spike width (SW), spikelets number/spike (SNS), spike mass (SM), grain number/spike (GNS), grain mass/spike (GMS), biological yield (BY), thousand kernel mass (TKM), grain yield (GY) and harvest index (HI). Wheat traits such as SN, SM, BY, TKM, GY were more vulnerable to drought stress. Positive significant correlation of GY with SN, BY and HI under rain-fed condition was found. Genotypes of durum wheat were more sensitive to drought than that bread wheat genotypes. The significant and positive correlation of GY with Stress Tolerance Index (STI), Mean Productivity (MP) and Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP) indicated that these indices were more effective in identifying high yielding, drought tolerance genotypes.

Relationships among phenotypic traits of sweet corn and tolerance to crowding stress

Crowding stress tolerance is defined as the extent to which the crop maintains yield per unit area as plant population density increases beyond standard levels. Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids grown for processing vary widely in tolerance to crowding stress; however, the mechanisms involved in crowding stress tolerance are unknown. The objective of the study was to determine the extent to which crop traits, individually and in combination, relate to crowding stress tolerance in processing sweet corn. Twenty-six modern shrunken-2 processing hybrids from eight sources were grown under conditions of crowding stress (i.e. 72,000 plantsha−1) over a three-year period. Seventeen crop traits measured from emergence to harvest were related to four measures of crowding stress tolerance, including ear mass, recovery, case production, and gross profit margin. Of individual crop traits, kernel mass plant−1 was among the best predictors of crowding stress tolerance in processing sweet corn, as long as sweet corn lines were grown at a uniformly high plant population. Two categories of traits related to crowding stress tolerance in sweet corn, including a ‘source-sink relationship’ factor and a ‘photosynthetic capacity’ factor. Factor regression showed the combination of traits loading into the source-sink relationship factor was positively related to ear mass, case production, and gross profit margin. This research points to the underlying mechanisms involved in crowding stress tolerance in processing sweet corn.

AAC Proclaim general purpose spring wheat

Randhawa, H. S., Graf, R. J., Fox, S. L. and Sadasivaiah, R. S. 2015. AAC Proclaim general purpose spring wheat. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 1265–1269. AAC Proclaim is a soft red spring wheat cultivar eligible for the Canada Western General Purpose (CWGP) wheat class. Evaluated in 18 trials grown over 2 yr in the General Purpose Wheat Cooperative Registration trial, AAC Proclaim yielded significantly lower than the CWGP checks, AC Andrew and Pasteur, and was 1 and 5 d earlier maturing, respectively. AAC Proclaim was significantly taller than the checks, but had similar straw strength. Test weight was higher than the checks and kernel mass was similar to AC Andrew. Based on visual assessments and deoxynivalenol testing over 3 yr, AAC Proclaim was rated as resistant to Fusarium head blight. It also expressed resistance to the prevalent races of leaf rust and moderate resistance to the prevalent races of stem rust and loose smut. AAC Proclaim showed susceptibility to infection by stripe rust and common bunt.

Sweet corn ‘stress test’ offers efficient way to identify high‐yielding hybrids

Corn hybrids that better tolerate crowding—allowing them to be sown at higher populations than their predecessors—have been a driver of rising yields of field corn in recent decades. Now, large differences in crowding stress tolerance (CST) have been reported among sweet corn hybrids, leading growers and processors to wonder if these emerging hybrids may offer similar yield benefits. Martin Williams, a University of Illinois crop scientist and ecologist with USDA-ARS, says the question is fundamental to improving the sustainability of sweet corn production in the United States and maintaining dominance in sweet corn production globally. The trick is finding an efficient way to test sweet corn for crowding tolerance. To identify field corn hybrids with improved CST, researchers usually grow and compare hybrids across a range of plant populations. Unlike mechanically harvested field corn, however, sweet corn is harvested by hand and during a very narrow window of time. Sweet corn is then husked and fresh kernels are cut—processing that also often takes place by hand. So, “Because of time and labor constraints in processing sweet corn, comparing more than a few hybrids with the ‘field corn approach’ is impractical,” Williams says. In a study in the September-October issue of Agronomy Journal (see http://bit.ly/1isHYV1), Williams identified a more efficient method for comparing processing sweet corn hybrids for CST. Instead of testing sweet corn at many different population levels, his “stress test” approach grows all hybrids at a single, high population that he identified based on previous research. “We had a good sense of the optimum population of previous top-performing hybrids,” he explains. “So we went just beyond that level.” More specifically, sweet corn for processing is grown in the Midwest at approximately 23,000 plants/ac. Williams's previous research showed that profitability of hybrids with improved CST was maximized at approximately 27,000 plants/ac. In his most recent “stress test” trial, all hybrids were grown at 29,000 plants/ac. Following this approach, William's team was able to compare, in replicated field trials across various environments, CST among every “super sweet” processing hybrid provided by the seed industry. This included 26 hybrids from eight companies. The findings of the study then allowed the researchers to rank the entire list of processing sweet corn hybrids for CST. The highest-yielding hybrid produced 50% more green ear mass than the lowest-yielding hybrid. In addition, recovery—the fraction of ear mass represented by recoverable kernel mass—ranged from 36 to 42% for most hybrids, with the highest exceeding 46%. Moreover, the top-ranked hybrid for “case production” produced 61% more cases of corn kernels per acre than the lowest. Based on an economic analysis, the highest CST hybrid was also 71% more profitable than the lowest hybrid. Williams adds that the stress test will aid in testing future germplasm. And he thinks his study should challenge seed companies to work on improving sweet corn CST. “There's a quantifiable benefit to having plants that can tolerate more neighbors,” he says. “That has been a large driver to yield gains in field corn, and it's a logical route to increasing sweet corn yield.” The Midwest Food Processors Association provided support for the study. Ears from a processing sweet corn hybrid with poor tolerance to crowding stress (left) versus ears from a hybrid with high crowding tolerance (right). Photo by Martin Williams.

Manipulation of Slurry Density of Red Mud Clay in the Separation of Fine/Coarse Palm Kernel Shell

A work on the manipulation of slurry density of red mud clay in the separation of fine/coarse palm kernel shell is presented. Measured mass quantities of clay were added intermittently into 100 L of water and its density calculated and recorded. Different mass quantities of kernel/shell mixture were poured into the mud clay slurry, and stirred. The part of Kernel/shell mixture that floated were scooped off and the Kernel hand-picked and weighed. The plot of weight of floated kernel against specific gravity of the slurry shows a sigmoidal profile (asymptotic to sp. gravity axis). Curve fitting the profile with the superimposition of a model eqn on it gives an R 2 of 99.85% using MATLAB Toolbox 7.0. The derived equation for floating kernel mass against mud slurry density fitted the profile with R2 of 99.85%. At near stokes’ regime i.e., n = 2/3, the sp. Gravities of kernel and shell as well as shell diameter are 0.8349, 1.037 and 1.04 cm respectively, while, at Newton’s regime they are 0.7242, 0.9082 and 1.114cm respectively. As the sp. gravity of the mud clay slurry begins to approach 2.81 the floated kernel mass begins to be constant and highest.

Segregating the Effects of Seed Traits and Common Ancestry of Hardwood Trees on Eastern Gray Squirrel Foraging Decisions.

The evolution of specific seed traits in scatter-hoarded tree species often has been attributed to granivore foraging behavior. However, the degree to which foraging investments and seed traits correlate with phylogenetic relationships among trees remains unexplored. We presented seeds of 23 different hardwood tree species (families Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Juglandaceae) to eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), and measured the time and distance travelled by squirrels that consumed or cached each seed. We estimated 11 physical and chemical seed traits for each species, and the phylogenetic relationships between the 23 hardwood trees. Variance partitioning revealed that considerable variation in foraging investment was attributable to seed traits alone (27–73%), and combined effects of seed traits and phylogeny of hardwood trees (5–55%). A phylogenetic PCA (pPCA) on seed traits and tree phylogeny resulted in 2 “global” axes of traits that were phylogenetically autocorrelated at the family and genus level and a third “local” axis in which traits were not phylogenetically autocorrelated. Collectively, these axes explained 30–76% of the variation in squirrel foraging investments. The first global pPCA axis, which produced large scores for seed species with thin shells, low lipid and high carbohydrate content, was negatively related to time to consume and cache seeds and travel distance to cache. The second global pPCA axis, which produced large scores for seeds with high protein, low tannin and low dormancy levels, was an important predictor of consumption time only. The local pPCA axis primarily reflected kernel mass. Although it explained only 12% of the variation in trait space and was not autocorrelated among phylogenetic clades, the local axis was related to all four squirrel foraging investments. Squirrel foraging behaviors are influenced by a combination of phylogenetically conserved and more evolutionarily labile seed traits that is consistent with a weak or more diffuse coevolutionary relationship between rodents and hardwood trees rather than a direct coevolutionary relationship.

Mathematical Modeling of the Solvent Extraction of Palm Kernel Oil from Palm Kernel

The model for the solvent extraction of palm kernel oil from palm kernel was generated for the process at varying particle sizes of palm kernel, temperature of extraction, duration of extraction and mass of palm kernel respectively using Least Square Linear Equation. Petroleum ether was used as solvent to carry out the extraction in a soxhlet apparatus. The percentage oil yield was determined for every extraction carried out. The experimental results obtained showed that percentage oil yield decreases with increase in particle size and mass, but increases with increase in the temperature and duration of extraction. The characterization of the extracted oil was also done to determine its physiochemical properties, which revealed palm kernel oil as a non-drying oil. Statistical analyses of each variable studied and its corresponding oil yield was carried out followed by the modeling of the extraction process for each parameter using least square linear equation. The interpretation of the model developed revealed a model which was significant in the variations obtained from the experimental results.

Mathematical Modeling of the Solvent Extraction of Palm Kernel Oil from Palm Kernel

The model for the solvent extraction of palm kernel oil from palm kernel was generated for the process at varying particle sizes of palm kernel, temperature of extraction, duration of extraction and mass of palm kernel respectively using Least Square Linear Equation. Petroleum ether was used as solvent to carry out the extraction in a soxhlet apparatus. The percentage oil yield was determined for every extraction carried out. The experimental results obtained showed that percentage oil yield decreases with increase in particle size and mass, but increases with increase in the temperature and duration of extraction. The characterization of the extracted oil was also done to determine its physiochemical properties, which revealed palm kernel oil as a non-drying oil. Statistical analyses of each variable studied and its corresponding oil yield was carried out followed by the modeling of the extraction process for each parameter using least square linear equation. The interpretation of the model developed revealed a model which was significant in the variations obtained from the experimental results.

Quantitative Trait Variation in Self- and Cross-Fertilized Seeds of Jatropha curcas L.: Parental Effects of Genotypes and Genetic Pools

Jatropha curcas L. (jatropha) is an undomesticated plant with a high potential for sustainable production of biofuels in the tropics and subtropics. Oil content, seed mass, kernel mass, and the ratio of kernel to seed mass are important traits for breeding. These traits could potentially be improved by exploitation of parental effects. Besides, parental effects could be used to separate self- from cross-fertilized seeds and increase the efficiency of hybrid seed production. The main goal of this study was to assess the variation of quantitative seed traits (oil content, seed mass, kernel mass, and ratio of kernel to seed mass) in a panel of self- and cross-fertilized seeds from a genetically diverse germplasm. We analyzed a set of 31 genotypes (12 self- and 19 cross-fertilized genotypes) originated by combination of parental components from 2 different genetic pools (pool A: phorbol ester absence; pool B: phorbol ester present). We found strong significant effects of parental components and genetic pools on most seeds traits. Although the variation in oil content among single seeds was very large, some specific combinations of parental components showed promise to be exploited for rapid and automatized identification and classification of self- and cross-fertilized seeds. We conclude that parental effects need to be considered for breeding and cultivar production.