The Effects of Light, Temperature and Salinity on Seed Germination of Three Maize Forms

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of different light, temperature and salt concentration levels on dent (P 3394), sweet corn (Sunshine) hybrids and popcorn (local variety of Çanakkale) seeds which have different endosperm. In this study, research was conducted to evaluate the effect of two different light periods (continuous light and 12 h light : 12 h dark), two different temperatures (17 and 30 ºC) and four different salt concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 mM) on germination speed, germination rate, radicle length, coleoptile length, plumula length and vigor index of maize grain. The light periods had a significant effect on germination speed, germination rate and radicula length at 12 hours light and 12 hours dark (26.83%, 31.26% and 1.71cm respectively), and continuous light (32.77% 41.12% and 2.29cm respectively). The germination rate and coleoptile length were affected at 17 ºC temperature (40.47% and 1.57cm) and at 30 ºC temperatures (31.91% and 2.29 cm). Salt concentration had a significant effect on radicula length, coleoptile length and plumula length. They decreased with increasing of salt concentration level. There were significant differences among maize seeds that have different endosperm in terms of all investigated traits in this study. The popcorn seed had significantly higher values than the other maize hybrids in respect to all investigated traits. The seed of popcorn has superiority 50% than dent and sweet corn hybrids.