Effect of Sowing Date on the Germination and Longevity of Seeds of Maize (Zea mays) Cultivars Grown Under Striga Infested Field

Abstract

Determination of the best Sowing date that would produce high quality seeds of two maize cultivars was conducted at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. Three Sowing dates (May, June and July) and two cultivars (SAMMAZ-17, which is a striga tolerant, and SUWAN-1-SR-Y, which is a Striga susceptible) were selected for the trial. Seeds of this cultivars were sown accordingly and harvested at physiological maturity (95 Days after sowing) The study was a 2 × 3 factorial combinations arranged in a Completely Randomised Design (CRD) and replicated four times. Samples of seeds of each of the treatment combinations were placed in small open plastic plates measuring 300 ml and then placed in an incubator at 30⁰ C and a relative humidity of 85 %. This was aimed at accelerating the ageing of the seeds. Seed samples were drawn for germination test prior to storage and at two weeks intervals afterwards for 14 weeks. Seed quality was evaluated using 100-seed weight, seed moisture content, germination test, germination rate index, germination index and electro-conductivity test. Seeds of SAMMAZ-17 cultivar sown in July germinated and stored significantly higher than the other treatments. Sowing seeds of SAMMAZ-17 cultivar in July in areas with similar climatic and environmental condition is recommended.