Effects of Temperatures and Soil Moisture Content on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth Characteristics of Maize

The effect of different temperatures and soil moisture content on germination and seedling growth characteristics of maize were studied,which were Shendan16 and Yuyu22.The result showed that with the temperature and soil water content decreased the seed germination potential,germination rate decreases.Temperature and soil moisture had different influence on seedling growth index,with the decrease of temperature and soil water content,including maize coleoptiles' length,seedling length,storage material transport rate and chlorophyll content were all decreased,while the activity of peroxidase and proline content were increased first and then decreased.In the environmental temperature below 15℃ under the constant temperature of condition,the maize seed germination rate rapidly reduced.When soil moisture content was lower than 10%,seed germination would be constrained;When the temperature below 15℃ and soil water content below 10%,the seedling growth was restricted.Under the low temperature and drought persistent stress condition,it is not conducive to maize seed germination and seedling growth.