Effect of Seed Deterioration on Agronomic Traits and Grain Yield of Two Corn Hybrids

In order to evaluate the agronomic traits and grain yield of two corn hybrids، seeds were sown in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with four replications. The factors were two corn hybrids (540 and 704) and three level of seed deterioration. The seeds of two corn hybrids were divided into three sub-samples from which a sub-sample was considered as non-deteriorated (b0) and the other two sub-samples were artificially deteriorated by the controlled deterioration test at 45˚ C for 48 and 96 hours (b1 and b2، respectively). The results showed that the agronomic traits and grain yield of plants from non-deteriorated seeds (b0) were better than the deteriorated seeds (b2). Also hybrid 540 for all measured traits was better than hybrid 704. The grain yield of b0 increased about 27. 5% as compared with b2. It was concluded that the sowing of high vigour seeds was led to better stand establishment and consequently higher grain yield.