Maize hybrid seed

Production
AGC 422
 Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson students are expected to be able
to…….

● Define a hybrid

● Explain the process of hybrid construction

● Describe and explain agronomic practices involved in hybrid

seed production

●
 Definition: Maize Hybrid

● Maize hybrid is a plant resulting from the fertilization of

one maize plant by another genetically unrelated plant
● Maize hybrids are usually high yielding because of a
phenomenon called heterosis (hybrid vigour)
● Heterosis is caused by heterozygosity
 Composition of Maize Hybrid
● Basic building blocks of maize hybrids are inbred lines
● Inbred lines arise from repeated self-pollination (uniform
genetic constitution)
● Inbred lines are usually smaller, less vigorous, lower
yielding (inbreeding depression)
● Crossing such lines produces higher yielding plants
 Types of maize hybrids
● One way cross (Single Cross)

Based on two parental inbred lines (A x B)

Popular in developed world (uniformity, high yield)

Seed of single cross hybrids is very expensive

 Types of maize hybrids
● Three way cross
● Single cross hybrid crossed (as female) to an inbred
line (AxB)xC
● Seed yields are higher than single crosses
● Most common hybrid type in the developing world
 Types of maize hybrids
Two way cross (Double Cross hybrids)

● Product of crossing two distinct single crosses

● (A x B) x (C x D)
● Difficult to maintain and multiply
 Types of Hybrids Yield Uniformity Amount of Cost of Price
Potential Seed Production of
Produced Seed

Single Cross D D I D D
Modified Single e e n e e
Cross c c c c c
Three Way Cross r r r r r
e e e e e
Modified Three Way
Cross a a a a a
S S s S S
Double Cross
e e e e e
Top Cross s s s s
Varietal Cross
 Site Selection
● Locations chosen must take into account conditions and
location of neighboring fields
● Avoid planting in fields that were previously planted to
maize
● Sites for seed production should have good transport
facilities
● Proximity to processing facilities
 Agronomic Management
● Greater care is recommended for maize seed production
(Value), low vigor inbred parents
● Land preparation and Planting Dates
● Chosen to avoid excessively cool or hot temperatures and
isolation problems
● Careful choice of PDs for female and male parents
(Synchronization)
● Proper land preparation to ensure uniform emergence
 Planting Density
● Should aim at producing maximum yields of high quality
seed
● Optimum plant pop will depend on soil moisture and
fertility
● Densities for inbreds 40,000-80,000 plants/ha
● Lower densities are recommended for female rows (good
seed set and development, stress avoidance,
diseases/lodging
 Planting Density

● Male rows are normally planted at a much

higher seed rate (pollen production is less
sensitive to environmental stress,maximisation
of pollen production)
 Machine Planting
● Proper calibration for seed size and shape
● Planting depth should match soil type, inbred sensitivity,
synchronization
● Thorough cleaning of the planter to ensure that it is
completely clean and free of other maize seed
 Fertilizer
● Should be applied to achieve maximum seed production
(economic/environment)
● Application rates depend on soil fertility
● Inbreds have poor rooting capacity than hybrids (sensitive
to nutrient deficiencies)
 Fertilizers
Other than N-P-K other nutrients crucial in seed
production:

● Magnesium (germination)
● Boron (flower development and pollen germination),
● Zinc (seed formation)
● Molybdenum (endosperm development)
 Other Key Management Practices

● Irrigation

● Weed control

● Disease control

● Insect pest control

 Maize Pollen and Isolation
● Cross pollination plus wind dispersed pollen provide
significant challenges in contamination avoidance
● Proper isolation essential to limit contamination from
foreign pollen (Genetic purity)
● Isolation normally achieved in three ways
● 1.Distance 2. Time 3. Good synchronization
● Best isolation is a perfect nick
 Isolation Distances: Factors
(a) Greatest contamination within 50-75m of contaminating field
(b) Pollen from border rows dilutes contamination
(c) Natural barriers reduce contamination
(d) Abundant pollen from male parent during silking reduces
contamination
(e) The larger the field the less risk of contamination
(f) Wind direction in relation to location of potential source of
contamination
 Isolation Distances:Factors
(g) Environmental conditions during pollination
 Time Isolation
Recommended that there is a minimum of three to four weeks
difference between planting maize seed crop and potential
contamination sources
 Planting Hybrid Seed Maize
Maize seed crop differs from commercial crop in the following
aspects

1. Border rows may be required

2. Lower planting density
3. Two components are usually planted within the same field
 Avoiding mixtures of male and female
● This can be done through color coding male and female
parent seed
● E.g. female parent seed may be coated with a red dye,
male parent seed green
● Female parent may be placed in red striped bag, male
parent seed in green striped bag
● Differential transportation
● Staking sections of the field with different color codes
 Female:Male Ratios
● Hybrid maize seed is only harvested off of female rows

● Aim is therefore to have minimum number of male rows

but sufficient pollen production

● Female:male rows range from 2:1 to 6:1 depending on the

pollen production potential of the male parentt

 Compact or interplanting
● Involves planting the female parent throughout the field
followed by squeezing in the male rows between the
females every two, three or four rows.
● Advantage is fuller utilization of land and placement of
male parent closer to the female
● Normally limited to crosses involving female parents with
intermediate vigour
 Male Row Removal
● Male rows should be eliminated after flowering
● Cutting, chopping, running down male rows after
pollination

Advantage

● Reduced competition for developing female plants

● Better yields/Quality
● Reduced risk of seed mixing
 Enhancement of Synchronization
● Parental inbred lines invariably differ in their

maturity profiles

● Planting dates can be varied

● Varying planting dates complicates field

operations
 Other strategies used to enhance
Synchronization
● Double planting of male rows
● Variable Planting depth (Male/female
phenology)
● Variable use of starter fertilizers
● Foliar fertilizer applications
(P-accelerate.N-delays)
● Seed coat treatments

● Chipping and mowing

● Seed priming

● Plant population densities

● Clipping the female shoot

 Other operations
Detasseling: Removal of tassels from female rows

● Ensure the entire tassel is removed(Avoid

selfing/contamination)
● Avoid removal of flag leaf alongside the tassel
● Detassel before pollen shedding

Roguing: Process of removal of voluntary plants, off types,

other crop plants, pollen shedders and objectionable weed
plants from the seed field before the seed crops reaches
flowering stage