Chengtao SUN, Xiaoxiang ZHANG

1. Maize Research Institute, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang 110161, China;

2. Lixiahe Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou 225007, China

Maize is one of three cereal crops in China, as well as an important source of fodders and industrial raw materials[1-2]. With promotion of single-seed based mechanized sowing technology, seed coating has become an indispensible part of maize seed for high-yield cultivation in northeast China. Many seedcoating agents are available in market,but high-end market is dominated by products from multinational corporations, with high price, which prevents application of high-quality maize seedcoating agents. Therefore, it is necessary to facilitate development of highend maize seed-coasting agents with high cost performance[3-4]. Northeast China is a maize producing region where some problems exist concerning spring sowing. The first is affected maize seedlings because of spring drought and low temperature in successive years, and untimely sowing.The second is from damages of underground insect, which results in yield reduction,especially for cutworm,grub and wireworm. The third is plant diseases, including maize rough dwarf virus, and Sporisorium reilianum,causing yield losses over 60%[4-8].These have become bottlenecks in maize sowing and cultivation technology, which is difficult to be resolved only by improving maize tolerance.Therefore, it is necessary to develop and implement related cultivation technology[7-9].

With high-end maize seed-coating agents as a control, the research investigated application effects of ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent, developed by Lixiahe Academy of Agricultural Sciences, in spring sowing areas in northeast China and performed analysis on the effects on seed activity and seedling growth to make evaluation on seedling rate and adult-seedling rate as well as side-effects ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent, which provides scientific references for applica-tion and extension of the product in northeast China.

Materials and Methods

Test materials

The test was conducted in an experimental base in Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the soils are black loam soil, with moderate or high fertility. The test cultivar was Liaodan No.565 and seed-coating agents were ultra-fine powder coat-seeding agentsI and II, with three replications. The control groups included CK0 without seed coating,CK1 and CK2 with seed-coating agents No.1 and No.2,respectively.

Specifically, the selected full maize seeds were immersed in water for 5-10 min, and then seeds were drained until none water dropped.Subsequently, the seed coating agent No. I and II, and seed-coating agents No.1 and No.2 were mixed in a plastic container at a specific ratio. Then, the soaked maize seeds were added into the container and coated. It is notable that seed adding and stirring proceeding simultaneously until all maize seeds were covered with the agents.

A few seeds were left in the incubator in the laboratory and the rest were all sown in farmlands. The test plot had an area of 42.8 m2, with three replications,and the test was conducted as per randomized block design.

Measurement methods

The germination rate and germination potential were surveyed 3 d and 7 d after seedling grew and the number of seedlings (after seedling grew,the number of seedling in every test plot was recorded until seedlings stop growing), growth vigor, plant height,leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, average root length, average number of root,stem dry/fresh weights were surveyed 25 d after sowing.

Table 1 Effects of different seed coating agents on seed germination

Table 2 Effects of different seed coating agents on agronomic characteristics

Table 3 Effects of different seed coating agents on maize diseases and underground insects

Results and Analysis

Effects of ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent on germination indices of maize in spring sowing areas in northeast China

As shown in Table 1,maize seeds were suitable to be grown in spring sowing areas in northeast China. For example, maize seeds in the treatments with coat-seeding agents I and II performed better in terms of germination rate and germination potential,as well as activity index, than those of CK0. Specifically, germination rates advanced 7.23 and 8.27 points, germination potential increased 28.13 and 24.31 points and activity index advanced 18.89 and 19.23 points, respectively. These kept similar with local agents.

Effects ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent on growth of maize seedlings in spring sowing areas in northeast China

As shown in Table 2, 20 d after sowing,plant heights of the treatments with coat-seeding agents I and II were just 5.14 and 5.78 cm, and the seedlings grew stocky. In terms of stem dry/fresh weights, the effects of the treatments performed better relative to CK1 and CK2,and took advantages compared with CK0. As for appearance, leaf area indices of the treatments also took advantages compared with CK1 and CK2. It can be concluded that coat-seeding agents I and II would accelerate substance accumulation and transferring of maize leaf.

Effects ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent on rough dwarf virus and cutworm

As shown in Table 3, averaged rate of diseased plant in the treatments with coat-seeding agents I and II werelower than that of CK0, and average control effect was significantly higher,but showed insignificant differences with CK1 and CK2. As for control on cutworms, the treatment effects of the coat-seeding agents I and II were better than that of CK0, CK1 and CK2. It can be concluded that coatseeding agents I and II perform far better in controlling underground insects in spring sowing areas in northeast China.

Table 4 Effects of different seed coating agents on yield characters of maize

Effects ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agent on maize yield

As shown in Table 4, ear length in the treatments with coat-seeding agent I enjoyed advantages compared with CK0, CK1, and CK2; ear thickness in the treatments with coat-seeding agents I and II showed little differences with CK0, CK1 and CK2; yield components, such as ear quality and hundred-seed quality in the treatments showed insignificant differences with CK1 and CK2, but significant differences existed with CK0. Finally, coatseeding agent I enjoyed superiority. It is obvious that new maize coat-seeding agents hold a promising prospect in facilitating substance accumulation of seeds.

Conclusion and Discussion

The areas by spring sowing lack water,with high temperature in northeast China. Therefore, crop tolerance is highly demanded and it is key for saving seedlings to sow provided soils moist. To grow full and strong seedlings in spring lays foundation for good harvests in autumn. Hence, it is of significance for high and stable yield of maize to adopt packaging-based cultivation of seeds.

The research indicates that ultrafine powder shaped maize seed coating agents I and II significantly improved seedling quality,which function fairly and even better with seed coating agents 1 and 2.The agents I and II adapt well in spring sowing areas in northeast China, and comprehensive performance has achieved high-end seed coating agents in markets, which considerably improves seedling comprehensive quality. What’s more, underground insects, such as cutworms can be well controlled. Additionally, by the agents I and II, maize yield increased by 3%-5%, and the agents are safe to maize.

The ultra-fine powder shaped maize seed coating agents are solid powders and convenient for storage,with a long cycle.Compared with suspending agents,it is suitable for transportation and storage,and easy for operation[9].

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