3.
Direct effect of pollen on kernel size.
Studies on quantitative inheritance in corn in progress at this station for several years have included investigations on the inheritance of kernel size. In many of these experiments, open‑pollinated seed of the types being studied has been used for kernel-weight determinations. Data of Kiesselbach (Nebr. Agr. Exp. Sta., Res. Bul. 33, 1926) have indicated that direct effects of pollen on kernel size in dent corn were not large. However, observations of such effects produced by pollen of certain inbred lines suggest that this may not always be the case. The dent inbred line R4 has been found to have a consistently depressing effect on kernel size when used as a pollen parent. Data illustrating the magnitude of this effect are presented in the following table:
|
|
|
Weight of 100 kernels, grams |
|
|
Tester (seed parent) |
Ky27 as pollen parent |
R4 as |
Difference |
|
White O. P. variety |
51.80 |
41.92 |
9.88 |
|
Illinois Low Protein
(white) |
36.56 |
30.53 |
6.03 |
|
Henry Moore Y. D. |
36.10 |
31.97 |
4.13 |
|
Lancaster Surecrop Y. D. |
29.46 |
27.73 |
1.73 |
The complete
data are expected to be ready for publication shortly.