Effect of chemical treatments of seed corn on stand and yield in Kansas
1934
Melchers, L.E. | Brunson, A.M.
The fungous organisms, Gibberella saubinetii and Diplodia zeae, which are recognized as fungous parasites, are less common in Kansas than Fusarium moniliforme and species of Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Aspergillus. F. moniliforme occurred on or inside the seed of 94% of all ears and kernels tested. Under Kansas conditions, however, this organism is not an active parasite and therefore seed corn treatments where this organism alone is involved have given no response. Studies were conducted over a period of 5 years with seed corn from farmers and from the agronomy farm. This seed was treated with various advertised commercial disinfectants. The effect of chemical treatments of seed corn on field germination varied in different years, sometimes showing slight increases and sometimes decreases. No significant advantage in yield, quality of the crop, or proportion of lodged or barren plants was observed from the use of any of the chemical seed treatments thus far tried. From the results of these experiments, chemical treatment of seed corn cannot be recommended as a general practice for Kansas. There may be occasional lots of Kansas-grown seed corn which will respond slightly to seed treatments in some seasons, but this would be the exception rather than the general rule. Greater reliance should be placed in the field selection of sound, well-matured seed ears from erect stalks, to be followed by thorough and quick drying.
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