Maize embryo culture as a test for productivity --Chernov, AA, Mihailov, ME The 6 inbred lines of the maize were tested in embryo culture with hormonal treatment. The embryos with scutella have been excised from the grains to remove the influence of endosperm, and then were grown in agar medium with 4-amino,3,5,6-trichlorpicoline acid, 1 mg/l. The seedlings were analysed for coleoptile length, coleoptile weight and weight/length ratio. For each trait these lines were grouped into 3 classes: high (3), middle (2) and low (1). The seedling phenotype was compared with productivity (Table 1).

It is proved that the lines of highest productivity are marginal for seedling traits, and the line of lowest productivity belongs to the middle classes. The marginality parameter was deduced from the three seedling traits. The Spearman rank correlation between marginality and productivity is 0.89 (P<0.05). This dependence is explicable since biosynthesis and organogenesis are based on hormonal reactions.

Table 1. Productivity and embryo culture phenotype of maize lines
 
 
Phenotypic classes
    
Line
coleoptile length
coleoptile weight
weight/length
Marginality
Productivity, gm/plant
           
A619
2
2
2
0
75+11
MK109
1
1
3
  
113+2
MK133
2
3
3
0.67
80+6
MK196
2
2
2
0
34+4
W32
2
1
2
0.33
69+4
W64
3
3
1
1
95+6

 

Please Note: Notes submitted to the Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter may be cited only with consent of the authors.

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