Zea mays

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds present no inherent problems in storage or germination. However, if they have not been properly dried and stored under optimal conditions, storage life and viability will be reduced.

Zea mays (Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand at constant temperatures of 20 or 25ºC, or using an alternating temperature regime of 30/20ºC (with an 8/16hr photoperiod).

The seeds of this species do not display dormancy.

Seed Morphology

Zea mays section
(Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

This species has an abundant, starchy endosperm and a lateral and relatively small embryo.

See more images of this species at the Digital Atlas of Economic Plants.

Taxonomy

Family: POACEAE

Accepted name: Zea mays L.

Synonyms: various

Common name: maize, corn

References and Links

Baskin, C.C. and Baskin J.M. (1998). Seeds: ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. Academic Press, USA.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.
International Seed Testing Association (2010). International Rules for Seed Testing: edition 2010. ISTA, Bassersdorf, Switzerland.
Martin, A.C. (1946). The comparative morphology of seeds. The American Midland Naturalist, Vol 36 (3): pp513-660.
Priestley, D.A. (1986). Seed Ageing. Cornell University Press, USA.
Rao, N.K., Hanson, J., Dulloo, M.E., Ghosh, K., Nowell, D. and Larinde, M. (2006). Manual of seed handling in genebanks. Handbooks for Genebanks No. 8. Bioversity International, Rome, Italy.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Zea mays.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Zea mays.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Zea mays.
Tropical Forages - CSIRO, DPI&F(Qld), CIAT and ILRI, Brisbane, Australia: Zea mays.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Zea mays.