Seed reserve mobilization during germination and seedling growth of different maize hybrids under nutrients application

Abstract

The seeds of four maize hybrids (Zea mays L.), including Porumbeni 180 (Por. 180), Bemo 203, Porumbeni 374 (Por. 374) and Porumbeni 427 (Por. 427 were used to investigate the effect of seed treatment with water (control) or ½ Hoagland nutrients media (½ NM) on the mobilization of seed reserves for germination and early growth of seedlings. Utilization of ½ NM provided an increase in the rate of endosperm mass included in the biomass of seedlings, while that consumed in respiration, on the contrary decreased, in comparison with the control. The seed metabolic efficiency (SME) has been shown to depend on both the type of corn hybrid and the nutrient media used for seed treatment and germination. The SME level of maize hybrids that germinated on ½ NM was significantly higher for Bemo 203 and other hybrids studied, being 2.4 and 2 times higher, respectively, than that of control seeds.