Corn Fertility/Sterility

A minimum percentage of fertile seeds is required in order to provide sufficient pollen in a mixed seed lot.  Alternatively a sterile female can prevent the need for detasseling during hybrid corn production.  Traditionally, the fertility/sterility percentage of a seed lot is determined via field grow out. 

ICIA offers a molecular test to determine fertility/sterility percentage for S, C, and T cytoplasm types.  This test is performed on 100 individual seeds and results are reported as % fertile.



Fertile                                                        Sterile


Fertile and Sterile mix