14. Differential dominance in number of kernel rows. One of the F1's used by Dr. Wiggans in the production of double-cross 29-3 is a cross of a 12-row inbred line #2 (Onondaga White) with an 8-row line #1 (Lucets Favorite). The F1 plants show a high percentage of 8-row ears. Golden Cross Bantam, on the other hand, has a considerable percentage of 12-row ears, though also a cross of a 12-row line (Purdue 39) with an 8-row line (Purdue 51). This striking difference suggested a comparison of F1's from crosses of the two 8-row lines, 1 and 51, noted above, with ten 12-row lines, including 2 and 39 noted above. The results of one season's test are given in summary form in the accompanying tabular statement which shows the mean number of kernel rows in F1 of crosses between 8-row and 12-row inbred lines.

Inbred lines F1 crosses with  
  Line 1 Line 51  
Designation Number plants Mean number rows Number plants Mean number rows Number plants Mean number rows Difference in number rows
1 57 7.84  
51 88 7.95  
2 49 12.04 82 8.76 88 10.34 1.58
3 59 12.27 92 9.07 86 10.59 1.51
4 63 12.38 86 9.16 80 9.92 .79
39 95 12.02 71 9.77 90 11.36 1.59
II 59 12.34 56 9.57 86 9.93 .36
III 69 11.80 75 9.28 47 9.53 .25
VI 50 12.04 60 8.90 54 9.89 .99
VII 107 12.28 120 9.15 91 10.13 .98
B 97 12.10 85 9.04 73 10.41 1.37
G 74 12.11 93 9.05 37 10.05 1.00
Average 12-row
and F1 lines		 12.14   9.18   10.21 1.03

In every case the F1 row number was higher (0.25 to 1.59) where line 51 was the 8-row parent than where line 1 was used; and the average difference was one kernel row. Of the twenty F1 lots, the lowest row number was in the cross of I with 2 and the highest in 51 with 39. The frequency distribution of the four F1 lots from crosses of these four lines are as follows:

Inbred lines Frequency distribution for row number
8-row 12-row 8 10 12 14 Total Mean
1 2 51 31   82 8.76
1 39 16 47 8   71 9.77
51 2 14 45 29   88 10.34
51 39 1 29 58 21 90 11.36

Not only do the two 9-row lines differ, #1 tending more strongly than #51 to give low row number in F1, but #39 tends more strongly to give high row number than does #2.