# Seed and maize glossary

> Short definitions of the terms you meet when choosing hybrid maize, sunflower, alfalfa and barley seed.

- Source page: <https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/>
- Türkçe sürüm: <https://casseed.com.tr/sozluk/>

_This document is a plain-text version of the page for AI tools and readers; the source page holds the current, authoritative information._

## A

- [Alfalfa](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/alfalfa/): Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a protein-rich perennial forage legume that can stay in the same field for several years and be cut more than once a year.

## C

- [CRM (Comparative Relative Maturity)](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/crm/): CRM (Comparative Relative Maturity) is a relative value that expresses the maturity of a maize hybrid in day units by comparing it with known standard hybrids.

## D

- [Dent kernel](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/dent-kernel/): A dent kernel is a maize kernel type with a distinct depression on its crown that makes it look like a horse’s tooth when dry.
- [Drought tolerance](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/drought-tolerance/): Drought tolerance is a plant’s ability to maintain growth and yield under water shortage better than other varieties.
- [Dry matter (DM)](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/dry-matter/): Dry matter is what remains of a feed or plant sample once all its water has been removed, usually expressed as a percentage.
- [Dry-down](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/dry-down/): Dry-down is the rate at which maize kernels lose moisture in the field after physiological maturity.

## E

- [Ear tip fill](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/ear-tip-fill/): Ear tip fill describes how far kernels are set and filled from the base of the ear right up to its tip.

## F

- [FAO maturity group](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/fao-maturity-group/): The FAO maturity group is a numerical scale that classifies maize varieties by the time they need to mature; the higher the number, the later the variety matures.
- [Feed barley](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/feed-barley/): Feed barley is barley grown for its grain to be used as animal feed; it differs from malting barley in its end use and quality criteria.
- [Flint kernel](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/flint-kernel/): A flint kernel is a maize kernel type with a rounded crown whose outer part is made of hard, glossy, glass-like starch.

## G

- [Germination and emergence vigour](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/germination-and-emergence/): Germination is the seed taking up water and putting out a root and shoot; emergence vigour is the germinated seed’s ability to reach the soil surface quickly and strongly.
- [Grain maize](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/grain-maize/): Grain maize is maize grown for its mature kernels and threshed with a combine harvester once the kernels have dried sufficiently.

## H

- [Hybrid seed](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/hybrid-seed/): Hybrid seed is first-generation (F1) seed produced by the controlled crossing of two genetically different parent lines.

## K

- [Kernel row number and kernels per row](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/kernel-rows-and-kernels-per-row/): Kernel row number is the count of kernel rows around the ear; kernels per row is the number of kernels in one row from the base to the tip.

## L

- [Lodging resistance](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/lodging-resistance/): Lodging resistance is a maize plant’s ability to stay upright rather than bend or fall over (lodge) because of wind, rain or a weak stalk.

## M

- [Main-crop and second-crop sowing](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/main-crop-and-second-crop/): Main-crop sowing is spring sowing of the field’s principal crop for the season; second-crop sowing takes place in the same year after another crop, usually a cereal, has been harvested.

## O

- [Oilseed sunflower](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/oilseed-sunflower/): Oilseed sunflower is the type of sunflower grown to extract oil from its seed; it differs from confectionery sunflower in its smaller, thin-hulled seeds with a high oil content.

## P

- [Physiological maturity (black layer)](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/physiological-maturity/): Physiological maturity is the growth stage at which maize kernels reach maximum dry matter accumulation and a black layer forms at the kernel base.
- [Plant density](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/plant-density/): Plant density is the number of plants growing per unit area, usually expressed as plants per decare or plants per hectare.
- [Plant spacing](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/plant-spacing/): Plant spacing shows how far apart seeds are sown within the row and how far apart the rows are; for maize it is given in centimetres as in-row and between-row distance.

## S

- [Silage maize](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/silage-maize/): Silage maize is maize grown so that the whole plant (stalk, leaves and ear) can be chopped, fermented in airtight conditions and stored as animal feed.
- [Starch content](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/starch-content/): Starch content is the percentage by weight of starch in grain or feed; in maize it is the main source of energy.
- [Stay-green](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/stay-green/): Stay-green is a plant’s ability to keep its leaves and stalk green and photosynthetically active for longer during grain fill and maturity.

## T

- [Test weight (hectolitre weight)](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/test-weight/): Test weight, or hectolitre weight, is the weight in kilograms of grain filling a 100-litre volume (kg/hl) and indicates grain density.
- [Thousand kernel weight](https://casseed.com.tr/en/glossary/thousand-kernel-weight/): Thousand kernel weight is the weight in grams of 1,000 kernels and indicates how large and well filled the kernels are.