Zea diploperennis-maize hybrid adapted to the U. S. corn belt

--Lawrence A. Carlson and Steven C. Price

A cross between Zea diploperennis No. 1190 as female parent, and Minhybrid 8201 (A641 x W182B) as male was made in 1979 in St. Paul (materials were furnished by John Doebley of the University of Wisconsin and Jon Geadelmann of the University of Minnesota). Approximately 6,000 F2 seeds were collected from an isolation plot of the F1 plants.

In 1982 380 seeds of the 1980 F2's were planted. Only two plants flowered at the normal (110-day maturity) time. These were observed and crossed with each other and a satisfactory quantity of good seed was saved.

Each year the resulting seed (17LD) has been planted and has bloomed and produced seed. A minority (less than 5% of the plants) continue to bloom too late in Minnesota to mature seed.

In summation: The plants have a very pronounced teosinte growth habit, with 3 to 30 tillers; 10 to 200 silking locations; 10 to 100 viable seeds per ear; numerous brace roots extending from the 1st to the 7th node; some plants regenerate from planted nodes with brace roots.

Seed is available on a limited basis from 1988 by contacting LAC.

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

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