Asian Journal of Research and Review in Agriculture

Maintaining maize seed quality during storage is essential because insect infestation and unfavourable storage conditions can reduce germination and increase physical losses. The study was conducted at the Hawassa Agricultural Research Center warehouse and Seed Technology Laboratory during 2021/22 to evaluate the effects of different storage materials on maize seed quality. Seeds of the BH 546 maize variety were stored in three types of packaging material: polypropylene bags, jute sacks, and hermetic Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags. Seed samples were collected at monthly intervals from April 2021 to February 2022. The experiment was arranged in a complete block design (CBD) with four replications and involved combinations of three storage materials and six storage periods (1-6 months). Seed quality parameters were evaluated following the standard procedures of the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). The collected data were statistically analysed using the generalised linear model (GLM) procedure in SAS. The analysis of variance showed that storage material had a significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on maize seed germination and weevil infestation. After six months of storage, seeds kept in PICS bags exhibited the lowest weevil infestation (0.31%) and storage temperature (19 °C), together with the highest germination percentage (90%). By contrast, seeds stored in polypropylene bags showed comparatively poorer quality, characterised by greater weevil infestation and lower germination. The findings demonstrated that hermetic storage, particularly the PICS bag, effectively maintained maize seed quality during prolonged storage by limiting insect infestation and mould development. Therefore, hermetic storage technology can be recommended as an effective method for preserving maize seed quality during storage.