The Effect of Cold in Quality of AS 71 Variety Maize Seeds in Different Moistures

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Seed quality is affected by many factors, including maturity time and environmental conditions. As a result, determining an appropriate maturity time by using different tests is very important. In this study, we investigated the effect of four maturity times in terms of grain moisture content (30, 35, 40 and 45%) on Zea mays L. seed vigor using the cold. The results showed that the difference in grain yields with different moisture contents at harvest time was mainly due to the diversity of seed moisture contents. Highest percentage and rate of germination were obtained from the treatment with 30% moisture content at maturity time which showed no statistically significant difference with 35% moisture content. At maturity time, Different treatments in terms of grain moisture content caused changes in uniformity and germination index. On the one hand, treatment with 45% moisture content at maturity time delayed germination. Based on Guasnr’s (2007) equation, the nonlinear model of germination response curve was also fitting to the percentage of moisture contents at maturity time for test. In general, due to the reduction in the slope of germination response curve at high moisture content at maturity  time for test, 30 and 35% moisture content at maturity  time were found to be appropriate to produce high quality Zea mays L. seeds.