Importance of permanent improvement of production and control of basic seed of ZP maize hybrids

• Published in: Selekcija i semenarstvo Vol. 21; no. 2; pp. 103 - 117
• Main Authors: Sečanski Mile, Mirić Mladen, Radenović Čedomir, Marković Ksenija, Jovanović Života, Popović Aleksandar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Association of Plant Breedings and Seed Producers 01-01-2015
• Subjects: hybrid; inbred line; maize; variety
• ISSN: 0354-5881; 2406-209X
• DOI: 10.5937/SelSem1502103S

High-quality seed is one of the key factors in the commercial maize grain production. In addition, hybrid seed production is conditioned by the production of basic seed of parental inbreds. According to the Law on Seed, 2005, the category of basic seed is defined as: original of self-pollinated plant species, hybrid components and potato elite, produced under control of the Ministry competent for agribusiness and is used for the production of certified seed of the first generation. This paper presents a chronological overview of the overall activity since1945. that led to the modern production of maize seed in our country. The activities have been based on scientific, technical and technological achievements within many fields, ranging from genetics and breeding, through growing practices, processing, quality control and legal regulations concerning all of this. Transition from maize breeding and production to hybrids has provided an amazing development of maize breeding and seed production and also included significant profit. Therefore, maize seed production has become high-technology industry. The scientific and professional work in improving the production of basic seed of ZP maize hybrids has been carried out in stages, and generally followed achievements in maize breeding and genetics, as well as developments in the growing practices and processing. In order to maintain a high quality of maize hybrid seed, as the end product, permanent efforts have to be invested into maize production improvement, drying, processing, storing, genetic purity of basic seed of parental inbreds of ZP maize hybrids, which are grown on the significant percentage of maize production areas not only in Serbia and countries in the region.