Does corn seed size affect grain yield?
The genetics of the parent plant, environmental conditions during seed field development, and the position of the individual kernel on the cob influence corn seed size. Seed from a single ear could fall into many size/shape classes. Large-rounds usually come from the base of the ear, flats from the center, and small-round seed from the tip. Seed size has been a valid indicator of vigor for some crop species. However, corn isn’t one of them. Numerous research studies have evaluated the relative performance of size/shape combinations and have found few differences in emergence, growth, or grain yield. Obviously, planter performance can be an important issue with small seeds if maintenance or proper set-up is lacking. Bottom line: Don’t compromise on genetic potential and seed quality simply to obtain a desired seed size.
