Abstract / Description
BackgroundQuality protein maize is a biofortified food crop of significant importance for nutritionally vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. However, poor seed storability and vigour of quality protein maize (QPM) inbred lines remain a major challenge for breeders and the seed industry, limiting the expansion of QPM hybrids. In the current context, it is imperative to evaluate not only yield, but also other equally significant seed quality traits, such as storability and vigour, which substantially affect the marketability and spread of any hybrid.ResultsIn this study, 28 advanced QPM inbred lines were evaluated for pre- and post-storage seed viability and vigour using multiple seed quality parameters. The inbred lines exhibited high initial viability but varied in seed vigour and morphological traits. Natural ageing under ambient storage for 18 months led to a faster decline in vigour than in viability, increasing both the time to 50% germination and the mean germination time. Seed longevity, estimated as the half-life period (p50) during dry ageing and as the percentage of normal seedlings after 5 days of accelerated wet ageing, showed significant variation among the inbred lines (p