WW \ l W“ W W U _’—_—— '_; — '__——— _—4 —'._— # __,—’—. ______.———— _____——— — ’_—— _—__—— __——— "lg—4 x! (ID—801 COLD TEST (BERMINATEON 053 HYBRED SEED CORN < r . - ,. ~ . " : b " 5 \ 1‘ w 1" " -. ., a. . ‘ . -;‘ i: o ' .0 0‘ 1‘ ' ¢. L ,.&.' ’ ..- ‘V . ‘ .' O - .\§&_‘.> .U“. o ..'.'.' . ‘ ‘ .1 .. .51: g; . -. , ‘1 ' ’ at: rr 4- I . waxfl'rfu 5". {fun 5‘ f . _ .. “mi g“ '-‘\.'b tout sc\ a D -‘t‘ o h; “‘0": .' ' 3“; “I. v ‘ ‘t 'A 1“; '1 " I V t \' 1'. . \f. . \ \... if K, I". 'W 'f'flrc'k This is to certify that the thesis entitled COLD T3789? GERMIIIATI ”)N OF EYPRID SEED CURE presented by Gerard Hep tune has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for LLS..___ deqree in Wop s (6??? 7mm Major professor Dam a? 23/99 0-169 COLD TEST GERMINATION OF HYBRID SEED CORN BY GERARD NEPTUNE A THESIS Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Farm CrOps 1951 TH Eéls ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer wishes to express his sincere thanks to Dr. E. C. Rossman for his guidance and appreciable help through— out the experiments and preparation of this thesis. He also deeply appreciates the financial support of the Institute of International Education and the scholarship provided by Michigan State College for the present year which made it possible for him to complete this investigation. 0 r‘ ()2? '2 ~ path). ‘3 r}: '5'. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Review of Literature Materials and Methods Experimental Results and Discussion Summary Literature Cited Page 24 26 INTRODUC TION Wherever corn is grown a good stand is essential for maximum yields. In the northern areas, particularly, obtain- ing a good stand of corn is often a problem. Cold, wet weather frequently occurs after planting. Under these conditions, seed-— ling blights and rots are likely to deveIOp and kill the seedling before or after emergence. Since the number of plants per acre has a very large effect on the yield of grain (17), it is important to understand the factors that influence stands of corn. The purposes of this study were to determine: .(a) the extent of the difference in cold test germination among the various hybrids grown by Michigan farmers; (b) the differences that might occur among different .seed producers of the same hybrid; and (c) the effect of age of seed on cold test germination. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Several factors affecting stands of corn under adverse conditions have been investigated. Various microorganisms have been shown to cause reduction in stands of corn under cold wet conditions (3, 7, 8, 9, 19). Low temperature and excessive soil moisture have been shown to be favorable for deveIOpment of various pathogens which attack the seed and young seedling. Pythiurn fl. have been reported to be the principal pathogens involved (7, 8). Injury to germination and seedling vigor was found to be greater as the water content of the soil increased in cold weather (5). rGermination was not greatly affected when soil at 30—40% of its water—holding ca— pacity was inoculated with Pythium. The amount and the type of seed coat injury have been shown to cause reductions in stands of corn (1, 2., 10, ll, 12, 14, 20, 21). Injury to the pericarp permits invasion by seed- borne and soil—borne organisms which cause kernel rot, seed- ling blight, and root rot. Significant correlations of field stands with cold test germination have been reported by Tatum and Zuber (21), and Pinnel (15). Genetic differences in reaction to attack by seedling blight organisms have been reported (4, 6, 13, 15, 20). Ge— netic constitution of the seed was shown to affect cold test performance with wide differences existing among inbred lines and hybrids (15, 21). These differences were largely mater— nal; the pollen parent exerted relatively little influence on the cold test reaction of the seed. Commercial processing was found to cause much dam— age to hybrid seed corn (22). Injury increased as processing progressed through successive stages. Hybrids were found to differ in their susceptibility to physical injury during process— ing, and, also, to differ in their potential ability to germinate. Maturity of the seed and frost injury have been reported (18) as additional factors influencing stands in cold wet soil. In general, cold test stands improved as the seed matured. Arasan treated seed gave better stands than nontreated seed in all cases. While standard laboratory germination tests indi— cated no reduction in germination from frost, the frosted seed gave a lower cold test germination than unfrosted seed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seeds of 118 corn hybrids entered in the 1950 Michigan Hybrid Corn Trials and seed of 120 hybrids entered in the 1951 trials were. tested for their ability to germinate under cold, wet conditions. The seeds for the two trials were produced in 1949 and 1950, respectively. Samples, generally representative of seed offered for sale, were submitted by the various seed com- panies participating in the state yield trials. All seed samples had been treated with a seed disinfectant, but the same com- pound was not used on all of the samples. The 1949 seed entered in the 1950 trials was tested during the period January 21 to February 15, 1951. The 1950 seed entered in the 1951 trials was tested during the period April 28 to May 23, 1951. In both tests, three replications of fifty seeds each, were planted in soil in flats. The soil was saturated with water and the flats placed in a walk—in cold chamber maintained at 45° F for twelve days. The flats were then moved to a warm room (70—800 F) in the greenhouse for thirteen days. Strong seedlings were counted at this time. 5 The seedlings were cut at ground level and the average green weight per seedling in grams was obtained. Seeds of-four Michigan Certified hybrids (Ohio M 15, Michigan 51 B, Michigan 11 A, and Michigan 36 B) produced by different seed growers in 1948, 1949, and 1950 were sub— jected to cold test germinations. The cold tests were conducted April 19 to May 17, 1951. There were six different growers involved and they are designated by letters. Five growers pro- duced Ohio M 15 during the three—year period, four produced Michigan 51 B, three produced Michigan 11 A, and two produced Michigan 36 B. Samples of seed representative of that offered for sale were submitted by each grower. The large flat grade of seed was used in all cases. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Cold test germination and average seedling green weight for the 1949 and 1950 seed of entries made in the Michigan Hybrid Corn Trials are presented in Table I, and the analyses of variance in Table II. For both years, there were significant differences among the hybrids for both characteristics. Rag—doll germinations under standard laboratory condi— tions were conducted on all of the seed samples. The average germination was 98.5% and all samples were above 94%. Thus, all of the seed was capable of a high germination percentage under the ideal conditions of a standard germination test. The range in cold test germination was 86.0 to 1.3% for the 1949 seed samples and 98.7 to 19.3% for the 1950 seed samples. The averages were 46.6 and 80.0% for the two years. The older seed (1949 cr0p) was generally lower in cold test than the new seed (1950 (crOp). Differences among hybrids in germination cannot be attributed entirely to varietal differences since other factors such as abuse of the seed in processing, maturity, and frost injury (22, 18) may have affected the cold test performance. TABLE 1 AVERAGE COLD TEST GERMINATION AND GREEN WEIGHT PER SEEDLING FOR 1949 AND 1950 SEED SAMPLES ENTERED IN THE MICHIGAN HYBRID CORN TRIALS FOR 1950 AND 1951 Green Weight Germination . per Seedhng Hybrids (7') (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Pioneer X 5822 82.7 1.0 " 348 84. 7 1. 0 " 382 68. 7 1. 0 " 359 33. 3 0. 9 " 339 78. 0 1. 2 Pioneer X 5562 56.7 88.7 1.1 0.9 ” X 7278 78.0 93.3 1.0 0.8 " 322 60.0 78.7 0.9 0.7 " 373 70.7 88.0 1.3 0.9 " 344 70.0 90.0 1.2 0.9 Pioneer 388 66. 7 83.3 0.9 0.8 " 352 72.7 90.0 1.0 0.8 " 342 76.0 86.0 1.4 0.8 " 349 86.0 88.7 1.3 0.7 " X 5643 66.0 87.3 0.9 0.9 Pioneer 377 76. 7 0. 8 ” 396 90.7 1. 0 " 314 82.7 0. 6 " X 7027 96.0 1.0 " X 7036 96. 0 1. 0 " X 7164 84. 0 0. 6 " X 7164 MF 83.3 0. 7 Average 71 3 87.3 TABLE 1 (Continued) Green Weight Germination , (7‘) per Seedling Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Funks G 30 22.0 88.0 0.8 0.9 " G 16 A 55.3 87.3 0.9 0.9 " G 6 26.7 75.3 0.9 0.7 " G 28 38.0 1.0 " G I A 48.7 1.2 Funks G 11 82.0 0.9 " G 18 86.0 0.8 " G 68 88.7 0.8 " G 188 78.0 0.9 Average 38.1 83. 6 Pfister PAG 2675 76.7 78.7 1.0 0.7 " PAG 7011 68.0 94.7 0.8 1.0 " PAG 299 69. 3 84. 0 1. 0 0. 8 " PAG 253 73. 3 88. 7 1. 1 0.8 " PAG 56 65.3 87.3 1.0 0.8 " PAG 35 76. 0 79.3 1. 1 0.9 Pfister PAG 61 74. 7 90. 0 1. 1 0.8 " PAG 2772 93.3 0.8 " PAG 4196 96.7 0.8 " PAG 4199 96.0 0.8 " PAG 4560 83.3 0.8 " PAG 7020 90.7 0.8 " PAG 7026 50.7 1.4 Average 69. 2 88. 6 TABLE I (Continue d) Ge rmination Green Weight per Seedling Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Master F 101 A 70.0 78.0 1.3 1.0 " F 82 70.0 86.0 1. 0 0.8 " F 83 52.7 78.7 1.2 0.7 " F 21 74.7 87.3 1.0 0.8 " F 60 81.3 92.0 1.2 0.8 " F 140 62.7 0.8 Average 69. 7 80.8 Haapala 120 4. 0 0. 3 ” I30 6. 0 0.8 ” 270 29.3 0. 6 " 300 73. 3 1. l " 352 40.0 1. 2 " 475 17. 3 0. 9 Average 28. 3 Garno 448 A 59. 3 1. 0 " 440 52. 7 1. 3 " 451 37. 3 0. 8 Average 49. 8 De Kalb 404 A 43.3 75.3 1.1 0.7 " 406 72.7 78.7 1.3 0.7 " 240 38. 7 90.0 1. 0 0.8 " 65 32.0 78.0 0.8 0.8 " 43 56. 7 87.3 0.8 0.8 TABLE 1 (Continued) 10 Green Weight Germination , (%) per Seedling Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 De Kalb 410 58.7 0.8 " 50 47.3 1.0 " 408 81.3 0.8 " 459 77.3 0.5 " 239 81.3 0.7 De Kalb 41 65.3 0.9 " 56 72.7 0.8 " 58 74.7 0.7 Average 49. 9 78. 4 Jacques 1157 J 56.7 1.0 " 1055 J 60.7 75.3 1.2 0.9 " 956 J 64.0 53.3 1.1 0.6 " 907 54.7 82.0 1.0 0.8 Jacques 1153 J 84.0 0.8 " 1107 J 86.7 0.8 " 1003 J 75.3 0.6 " G 2 81.3 0.8 " H 7 88.7 0.8 Average 59. 0 78. 3 Wolverine 55 28. 7 l. 0 " 83 18.0 80.0 1. l 0.9 " 60 40.7 62.0 0.8 0.9 " 77 75.3 90.7 1.3 0.8 " 58 53. 3 78.7 1. l 0.6 TABLE I (Continued) 11 Ge rmination Green Weight per Seedling Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Wolverine 22 29.3 83.3 0.9 0.8 " 46 50. 0 74. 0 0. 9 0. 8 " 66 22.0 91.3 0.7 0.7 " 90 48.0 0.6 Average 39.7 76.0 Kingscrost KT 72.0 1.1 " KE 2 88.7 1.2 " KE 1 71.3 90.7 0.9 0.7 " KA 4 22.7 88.0 1.0 0.7 " KS 2 58.0 80.7 0.9 0.8 " KS 6 62.0 78.7 1.2 0.9 " KL 77.3 84.7 1.2 0.8 Kingscrost KO 5 91.3 0.8 " KS 3 90.0 0.8 " KS 4 86.0 0.9 " KH 3 89.3 0.7 " KY 4 92.0 0.7 " KI 82.0 0.7 Average 64. 6 86. 7 Michigan 11 A 24.0 90.0 0.9 0.9 " 24 B 49.3 83.3 0.8 0.8 " 36 B 27.3 78.0 0.9 0.8 " 51 B 43.3 84.0 1.3 0.8 TABLE 1 (Continued) 12 Green Weight Germination , (7.) per Seedling Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Michigan 20 D 72.7 95.3 1.1 0.9 " 29 D 52.0 88.7 1. 1 0.9 " 250 58.7 98.0 ' 1.0 0.9 " 350 69.3 95.3 1.2 0.8 " 480 98.7 0.8 Average 49. 6 90.1 Nosco N 4 56.0 1.5 " N 6 36.0 1.4 " N 9 46.7 1.0 " N 12 17.3 1.2 Average 39.0 Minnesota 800 42. 0 0. 9 Wisconsin 270 41. 3 1. 0 United U 17 47.3 1.3 " U 18 56.7 0.9 " U 26 39.3 0.7 " U 28 19.3 0.5 " U 32—30 77.3 0.7 " U 33 50.0 0.8 United U 20 29.3 66.0 1.0 0.8 " U 22 28.0 96.7 0.7 1.0 " U 24 20.7 90.7 0.5 0.9 " U 32 67.3 78.7 1.0 0.7 " U 32 A 68.0 62.0 1.0 0.6 Average 44. 6 67. 6 13 TABLE 1 (Continued) Green Weight Germination , (%) per Seedling Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Supercrost F 140 25. 3 0. 9 " 85 A 1. 3 0.1 " 213 23.3 56.7 1.1 0.7 " F 112 A 8.0 67.3 0.9 0.7 ” F 440 78. 0 l. 0 Average 9 14. 4 67. 3 Schumaker B 15 5.3 0.4 " B 16 37. 3 0. 8 " B 20 23. 3 0. 5 " B 28 42. 0 0. 9 Average 27. 0 Farmcraft 29 64. 7 0. 8 " 39 14.0 79.3 0.7 1.0 " 40 4.7 82.7 0.4 0.8 " 47 18. 7 0. 5 Average 12. 5 75. 6 Aldrich A 60 44. 0 1. 2 " A 61 72. 7 1.1 " 30 91.3 0. 8 Average 58. 3 91. 3 TABLE 1 (Continued) 14 Germination Green Weight per Seedling Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Ohio C 54 8. 0 0. 6 " W 64 39.3 1.0 " K 62 31.3 83.3 0.9 0.9 " K 24 6.7 63.3 0.7 0.9 " M 15 31.3 92.7 0.7 1.0 " K 54 80. 7 l. 0 " K 64 69. 3 1. 0 Average 23. 3 77. 8 Iowa H 4417 48.7 0.8 " H 4560 79.3 0.9 " H 4308 72.7 0.9 " H 4567 72. 7 0. 9 Average 68. 4 Lowe 23. 3 0. 5 " 32 62. 0 1. 0 " 38 24. 7 0. 8 " 52 39. 3 1. 0 Average 37. 3 Gries 201 4.7 31.3 0.8 0.5 " 420 6.0 48.0 0. 6 0.9 " 606 4.0 54.7 0.4 0.8 Average 4 9 44. 7 15 TABLE 1 (Continued) Green Weight Germination per Seedling We) Hybrids (grams) 1949 1950 1949 1950 Indiana 419 A 19.3 66.7 0.6 0.8 " 252 A 15.3 54.7 1.0 0.7 " 210 B 62.7 0.8 " 416 B 7.3 0.4 Average 14. 0 64. 5 The correlation coefficient (Table III) for hybrids common to both years was highly significant, 0.49, indicating that the same hybrids tended to be high in germination in both tests. Considering all samples from each seed company, some seed concerns averaged higher in cold tests (Table I). These data emphasize that large differences in stands of corn may be expected under adverse conditions even though all of the seed was capable of high germination under standard laboratory conditions. State and federal seed laws require that germination tests be conducted under ideal conditions so that each seed is given maximum Opportunity to germinate. Results of these tests are carried on the tags with the seed 16 TABLE II ANALYSES OF VARIANCE FOR COLD TEST GERMINATION AND GREEN WEIGHT PER SEEDLING FOR 1949 AND 1950 SEED Degrees Mean Squares Source of Freedom Germination Green Weight 1949 Seed Total 353 Replications 2 Hybrids 117 1, 676.7** 0.19** Error 234 164.8 0.07 1950 Seed Total 359 Replications 2 Hybrids 119 543. 8** 0. 03** Error 238 54. 9 0. 01 ** Significant at the 1% level of probability. 17 TABLE III CORRELATION OF COLD GERMINATION AND SEEDLING VIGOR Degrees of Freedom Vigor 1949 - Vigor 1950 0.20 64 Germination 1949 - Vigor 1949 0.06 116 Germination 1950 — Vigor 1950 0.56** 118 Germination 1949 — Germination 1950 0.49** 64 ** Significant at the 1% level of probability. as it is offered for sale. Ideal conditions of the standard laboratory germination test rarely prevail in the field. In view of the large effect of stands of corn in relation to yields (17), it appears that information on cold test per— formance would be desirable information to include on the tag for the seed purchaser. The buyer would know what germina— tion to expect under adverse weather conditions following plant- ing. This practice would stimulate the seed corn industry to use more care in processing seed corn. Information on cold test performance is another factor that farmers should consider 18 in choosing a hybrid for their farm. In addition to choosing an adapted hybrid that possesses an inherent ability to germ— inate under cold wet conditions, farmers should purchase seed of this hybrid from concerns that are able to produce the seed in a manner that will enable the seed to maintain this ability after processing. Germination and seedling vigor, as measured by average green weight per seedling, were not related in the test of the 1949 seed (Table III), while the two characteristics were highly significantly correlated in the test of the 1950 seed. There was no significant relationship in seedling vigor for the two tests. Yield and maturity data from the 1950 Michigan Hybrid Corn Trials (16) were used to determine if any relationship existed with cold test germination and seedling vigor for the 1949 seed. The inconsistency of the correlations (Table IV) indicates that, in general, there was no definite relationship among these characteristics. Pinnel (15), also, reported no relationship between yielding ability of double—cross hybrids and stands in cold test trials. TABLE IV 19 CORRELATIONS OF COLD GERMINATION AND SEEDLING VIGOR WITH YIELD AND MATURITY Germination Seedling Vigor Degrees Counties of Yield Maturity Yield Maturity Freedom Monroe 0.05 0.07 0.0 0.10 48 Ingham 0. 36 —0. 01 0. 84** 0. 25 45 Kalamazoo —0. 07 —0. 10 -0. 86** -O. 30* 44 Saginaw 0. 27 0.15 0. 48** 0. 37* 38 Oakland 0. 18 0.10 , 0. 08 —0. 20 33 Newaygo 0. 40* -0. 06 0. 36* 0.17 28 * Significant at ** Significant at the 1% level of probability. Table V presents average cold test germinations for the 5% level of probability. four Michigan Certified Hybrids produced by different seed growers in 1948, 1949, given in Table VI. Considering each hybrid individually, there were sig— and 1950. Analyses of variance are nificant differences among the seed producers and there were significant differences due to age of seed. Seed producer F , TABLE V 20 AVERAGE COLD TEST GERMINATION FOR FOUR MICHIGAN CERTIFIED HYBRIDS PRODUCED BY DIFFERENT GROWERS Grow- em 1948 1949 1950 Av. 1948 1949 1950 Av. Ohio M 15 Michigan 51 B A 48.7 59.3 80.0 62.7 B 19.3 44.0 77.3 46.9 32.0 62.7 72.7 55.8 c 46.7 46.7 64.0 52.4 28.7 29.3 57.3 38.4 D 18.0 38.0 61.0 39.1 49.3 59.3 69.3 59.3 E 42.7 66.7 89.3 66.2 F 41.3 76.7 85.3 67.8 14;:— 35.1 50.9 74.4 53.4 37.8 57. 0 71. 2 55. 3 Michigan 11 A Michigan 36 B c 51.3 52.0 62.0 55.1 D 50.0 57.3 64.7 57.3 26.7 29.3 66.7 40.9 E 33.3 46.7 88.0 56.0 F 62.0 64.7 82.7 69.8 ' Ave“ 54.4 58.0 69.8 60.7 30.0 38.0 77.3 48.4 age 21 TABLE VI ANALYSES OF VARIANCE FOR COLD TEST GERMINATION OF FOUR MICHIGAN CERTIFIED HYBRIDS Degrees Degrees Mean Mean Source of S uare of S uare Freedom q Freedom q Ohio M 15 ' Michigan 51 B Total 44 35 Years 2 5,373.8** 2 3,358.4** Growers 4 l, ll9.9** 3 1,368.9** Years x Gro. 8 193. 6 6 240.6 Error 30 109. 2 24 54. 6 Michigan 11 A Michigan 36 B Total 26 17 Years 2 576.4** 2 3,851.6** Growers Z 562. 4** 1 l, 027. 5** Years x Gro. 4 35. 6 2 86.2 Error 18 54. 5 12 79.8 ** Significant at the 1% level of probability. 22 who is a small seed grower with a limited amount of mechan— ical equipment, averaged significantly higher in cold test germ- inations for' two hybrids than producers C and D, who are much larger growers with more mechanical equipment for processing seed. Size of Operations and amount of mechanical equipment for processing seed are not necessarily indicative of ability to produce seed Of highest quality. These results illustrate that a small seed producer can produce hybrid seed corn of high quality with a limited amount of mechanical processing equip— ment. Results presented in Table V indicate the differences in germination that may occur with seed of the same hybrid pro— duced by different growers. With new seed (1950 crop), there were 29.3, 28.0, 20.7, and 16.9% differences in cold test for Ohio M 15, Michigan 51 B, Michigan 11 A, and Michigan 36 B, respectively, when produced by different growers. All seed samples represented in Table V germinated 95% or better in rag—doll test under standard laboratory conditions. One and two year old seed (1949 and 1948 seed) were significantly lower in cold test than new seed. The older the seed the lower the cold test. One year old seed germinated 23 23.5, 14.2, 11.8, and 39.3% less than new seed for the four hybrids, respectively (Table V). Two year old seed germinated 39.3, 33.4, 15.4, 47.3% less than new seed. Data in Table I also show that one year old seed gave generally lower cold test performance. Carry—over seed corn that has a high germination in standard germination tests under ideal laboratory conditions has generally been assumed to be equal in quality to new seed. The results of this study show that the germination of Old seed under adverse conditions is likely to be lower than that of new seed. SUMMARY Large differences in cold test germination were found to exist among samples of hybrid seed corn. All samples had a highly satisfactory germination under standard laboratory conditions. A low of 1.3% was found in 1949 seed and a low of 19.3% was found in 1950 seed. Hybrids that had a high cold test performance with 1949 seed tended to be high with 1950 seed. Associations of cold test germination and seedling vigor were inconsistent so that it was not possible to reach a con— clusion on the general extent of their relationship. The cor- relations of germination and seedling vigor with yield and ma.— turity did not indicate that there was any consistent relation— ship among these characteristics. Wide differences in cold test germination were present in samples of the same hybrid produced by different seed grow- ers. A small seed producer with limited mechanical process- ing equipment was capable of producing seed with higher cold test performance than larger seed growers with a more highly mechanized proce ss . 25 Cold test germinations for one and two year old seed were found to be lower than new seed. The older the seed the lower the cold test germination even though all seed was capable of very satisfactory germination under ideal laboratory conditions. Cold test performance was recommended as desirable information to include on the tag. LITERATURE CITED Alberts, H. W. Effect of pericarp injury on moisture absorption, fungus attack, and vitality of corn. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 19: 1021-1030, 1927. Brown, E. B. Relative yields from broken and entire kernels of seed corn. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 12: 196-197, 1920. Dickson, J. G. Influence Of soil temperatures and mois— ture on the development of the seed blight of wheat and corn caused by Gibberella saubinetii. Jour. Agr. Res., 23: 837-870, 1923. , and J. R. Holbert. The influence of temperature upon the metabolism and expression of disease resistance in selfed lines of corn. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agr., 18: 314-322, 1926. Flor, H. H. Relation of environmental factors to growth and pathogenicity of Pythium isolated from roots of sugar cane. PhytOpath., 20: 319—328, 1930. Hayes, H.K., I. J. Johnson, and E. C. Stakrnann. Re— action of maize seedlings to Gibberella saubinetii. PhytOpath., 23: 905-911, 1933. Ho, Wen—Chun. Soil inhabiting fungi attacking the roots maize. Iowa Res. Bul. 332. 1944. HOppe, P. E., and J. E. Middleton. Pathogenicity and occurrence in Wisconsin soils of Pythimn species which cause seedling disease in corn. Abstract in PhytOpath., 40: 13, 1950. Johnson, Helen, James R. Holbert, and J. G. Dickson. A Pythiurn seedling blight and root rot of dent corn. Jour. Agr. Res., 37: 443—464. 1928. 10. ll. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 27 Koehler, B. Pathologic significance of seed coat injury in dent corn. Abstract in PhytOpath., 25: 24. 1935. , G. H. Dungan, and W. L. Burlison. Ma- turity of seed corn in relation to yielding ability and disease infection. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 26: 262-274. 1934. . Disease infection and field performance of bin and hanger dried seed corn. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 32: 768-781. 1940. Mclndoe, K. G. The inheritance of the reaction of maize to Gibberella saubinetii. PhytOpath., 23: 905—911. 1933. Meyers, M. T. The influence of broken pericarp on the germination and yield of corn. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron., 16: 540-550. 1924. Pinnel, Emmett L. Genetic and environmental factors af— fecting corn seed germination at low temperatures. Jour.‘ AIner. Soc. Agron., 41: 562.-.568. 1949. Rossman, E. C. , and E. E. Down. Michigan Hybrid Corn - Trials for 1950. Mich. State College, Farm CrOps Dept. Mimeograph Leaflet, December, 1950. Rounds, W. T., E. C. Rossman, W. Zurakowski, and E. E. Down. Rate, method, and date of planting corn. Mich. Ag. Exp. Sta. Quart. Bul. 33: 372- 387. 1951. Rush, G. E. , and N. P. Neal. The effect of maturity and other factors on stands of corn at low temperatures. Agron. Jour., 43: 112-116. 1951. Stover, W. G. The relation of soil temperature to the deve10pment of seedling blight of corn caused by Helminthosporiurn __p_. Abstract in PhytOpath., 20: 30. 1922. 28 20. Tatum, L. A. The effect of genetic constitution and processing methods on the ability of maize seed to germinate in cold soil. Ph.D. Thesis, Iowa State College Library, Ames, Iowa. 1942. 21. , and M. S. Zuber. Germination of maize under adverse conditions. Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron. , 35: 48—59, 1943. 22. Wortman, L. S., and E. H. Rinke. Seed corn injury at various stages of processing and its effect upon cold test performance. Agron. Jour. , 43: 299- 304. 1951. umull111mmmmmumuummnuwiI 145 805