A number of unknown glossies were tested for allelism in 1975. Among these were three which gave unexpected results. When used as female each gave glossy seedlings in F1 when crossed with gl, gl2, gl3 and gl4. The three stocks have no ancestor in common for at least the last 10 generations. In subsequent tests, the three stocks, gl*-a, gl*-b and gl*-c, when used as female, gave glossy seedlings in F1 with all standard glossies used. F2 and F3 seedlings are also glossy. When the three glossies are used as males in crosses with standard glossies, the F1 seedlings are + and the F2 segregations approximate 9 + : 7 gl.

The cytoplasmic element (cgl) when separated from the nuclear glossy appears to have no phenotypic effect and does not give glossy seedlings in F1 with standard glossies. The nuclear gene when separated from cgl appears to behave like other simply inherited glossies. The unusual results therefore appear to be due to a cgl gl*-a (or b, c) interaction. Preliminary data suggest that the cgl gl*-a interaction leads to a "suppression-like" phenomenon. Evidence for this comes from three sources:

1. The absence of + type progeny in F2 and F3 crosses of cgl gl*-a/gl.
2. Crosses of gl2 (female) x cgl gl*-a/gl2 produce no glossy progeny.
3. Crosses of + (female) x cgl gl*-a/gl2 give monohybrid +:glossy segregations in F2.

G. F. Sprague

Return to the MNL 52 On-Line Index
Return to the Maize Newsletter Index
Return to the MaizeGDB Homepage