Abstract

In the corn seed production process, detasselling was the one major problem for harmful the seed yield and quality by the damage of top leaf based on the principle of source/sink relationship. Objective was to study the effect of detasseling to the corn seed yield and quality. The experiment was conducted based on the Randomized Complete Block Design with 4 replications, the remain of top leaf (upper of ear) was as a treatment consist of 4 levels; 3 top leaf remain as T1, 2 top leaf remain as T2, 3 top leaf remain as T3 and 4 top leaf remain as T4. The results showed, T1 had the greatest seed yield (45.5 g), ear length (112.73 mm), row per ear (12.7 row), seed per ear (142.92 g) and total seed weight (33.25 g). In term of seed quality test found there was not significantly differences in the germination percentage, shoot/root ratio and seedling dry weight. But the seed vigor (AA test and radical emergence) had significantly different, T1 was the greatest seed vigor (50 percent and 15.77 respectively). When compare T1 and T2 found the seed yield and vigor were not significant but when compare T3 and T4 found the seed yield and vigor were significantly decrease including leaf decrease. So, this result could suggest the decreased of leaf effected to the yield and yield components and showed the limitation factor that imbalance of source/sink could harmful the seed yield and vigor. Conclusion, the detasselling without carefully could be negative effect to the corn seed yield and quality.