Pengaruh Pemberian Kolkisin terhadap Penampilan Fenotip dan Produksi Jagung (Zea mays L.) Varietas NK 212

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) is the second most important food source for humans after rice. Lodging is a significant problem for several crops, including corn, because it causes a decrease in yield. The height of corn plants can affect the level of lodging. This study aims to determine the effect of colchicine administration on the phenotypic appearance of corn variety NK 212. This study was conducted on Jalan Sp. Jerman, Saentis, Kec. Percut Sei Tuan, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra Province, at an altitude of ± 25 meters above sea level from April 2025 to July 2025. This study used a factorial randomized block design (RAK) with 2 treatment factors and 3 replicates. The first factor was colchicine concentration (K): K0 (0 ppm), K1 (400 ppm), K2 (600 ppm). The second factor is the duration of immersion (N): N1 (6 hours), N2 (12 hours), N3 (18 hours). The parameters observed in this study included plant height, stem circumference, flowering age, leaf area, stomatal density, cob diameter, cob length, fresh cob weight, dry cob weight, number of seeds per row, and number of rows per cob. Based on the results of the study, colchicine concentration had a significant effect on plant height and stem circumference but no significant effect on other parameters. The control (K0) produced the highest plant height and largest stem circumference, while a concentration of 400 ppm (K1) produced the lowest plant height and smallest stem circumference. The duration of colchicine immersion had a very significant effect on plant height and stem circumference but no significant effect on other parameters. A 12-hour immersion (N2) resulted in the lowest plant height and smallest stem circumference. The interaction between a concentration of 400 ppm and an immersion duration of 18 hours resulted in the lowest plant height.