Genetic Variability in Physiological Seed Quality of Maize Genotypes of Different Maturity Groups

A study was conducted to investigate genetic variability in physiological seed quality using viability and vigour tests which were conducted at the seed testing laboratory of Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moor Plantation, Ibadan. The investigational materials consisted of twelve genotypes of maize of different maturity-early, intermediate and late collected from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan and IAR&T, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, respectively. The experimental design used was completely randomize design (CRD) and data was collected for some viability and vigour traits and the data collected were subjected to analysis of variance. Significant differences were found among all the maize genotypes for the characters under observation. Hundred seed weight ranged from 24.6-29.3 g, 18.5-26.6 g, 22.9-29.1 g, standard germination ranged from 54.0-100.0%, 16.0-92.0%, 50.0-100% and accelerate ageing germination also ranged from 6.0-96.0%, 7.0-84.0%, 0-90.0% in the early, intermediate and late- maturing genotypes, respectively. Conductivity ranged from 5.34-17.10 µS/cm/g, 13.7-91.7 µS/cm/g and7.06-33.6 µS/cm/g with mean values of 11.14, 39.23 and 14.05 µS/cm/g in the early, intermediate and late-maturing genotypes, respectively. Variability was smaller in the late-maturing genotypes for Root Number (RN) and Shoot Length (SLT) but higher for both early and late- maturing genotypes. It was concluded from this study that seeds of early-maturing genotypes had significantly higher physical and physiological quality parameters. All the early materials used for the study tend to be homogenous for all the traits measured and selection should be practiced for hundred seed weight to increase yield potential in maize varieties.