Co-operative Maize Variety Trials Show Interesting Results

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 19, 6 February 1948, Page 5

Co-operative Maize Variety Trials Show Interesting Results

(Prepared for the Beacon by ErR. Marryatt) As with potatoes the Fields Division carries out maize variety trials on a co-operative basis with farmers. Last year one was carried out at Wairoa and the other at Otakiri. Very interesting results have been obtained in comparison between newly imported Pfister 360 and the Ist and sth generations removed from the original double hybrid. New Seed Pays The results show clearly that it pays to use hew seed each year. Two other Pfister double hybrids, Nos. 380 and 1897 were included in the trials and Marigold was used as a “control.” Marigold has yielded remarkably well in comparison with the hybrids, probably because it suffered no damage from weather or vermin, whereas the hybrids did suffer from. both. Yields of green cobs in lb per acre at Otakiri were as follows: Pfister 360 new seed, 6512, Pfister 360 Ist gen., 6116, Pfister 360 sth gen., 5324, Pfister 380 Ist gen., 6732, Pfister 1897 Ist gen., 6248, Marigold 6776. Farmer’s own selection yielded 5852 lb per acre. Otakiri Marigold Outstanding Every row of Marigold was" outstanding at Otakiri because this variety was not damaged by the weather like the other varieties, the stalks of which were bent and broken. Marigold stalks were easily the toughest to break or bend, but plucking of this variety took twice as long as did plucking of any of the Pfisters. Marigold cobs are also set higher on the stalks, often six feet high. 360 New and 380 Ist geenration were the earliest maturing, followed by 360 sth geenration and 360 Ist generation. 1897 was inconsistent and Marigold was much later maturing than any of the Pfisters; Pfister Double-Hybrid Seed The Pfister maize seed now extensively used and approved (not certified) by the Departemnt of Agriculture originated in the United States of America and was bred by the Pfister Hybrid Maize Company of America. The double hybrid is obtained by crossing two single hybrids whose parents arb an inbred female and an inbred male. The Pfister Company produces double hybrid seed for the use of farmers to grow crop maize and particularly specifies that the farmer should not save his own seed or he will get successively lower and lower yields. A? First Double Hybrid Best

The result of breeding a double hybrid from inbred parents is a phenomenally increased yield from the original double hybrid* but deteriorating yield from each generation removed from the double hybrid. In the first year of the use of Pfister maize in New Zealand much of the seed was third and even fifth generation removed from the original double hybrid and many farmers were disappointed with the results.

The Department of Agriculture is now producing some double hybrid seed in Poverty Bay from the two single hybrid parents of Pfister 368 and the production of the inbred lines will be commenced when a maize breeding station is established. Little progress can be made until we have this station. In the meantime farmers should endeavour to obtain some of the limited quantity of Government Approved Pfister Maize seed rather than use their own saved seed. The results of the maize variety trials show clearly that it pays to use new seed each year.