Kernel
viability of selfed R0 plants
--Y. C. Ting
In the summer of 1988, 43 kernels were
obtained from the R0 plants (first generation plants from anther culture)
of maize strain 88BC-6. All of these kernels were grown in a vermiculite
mixture last spring. However, I found later that only three of them grew
into fully developed plants. I was very disappointed. Among the other kernels,
five germinated but when the hypocotyls reached about 2 centimeters in
length, they stopped growth. Their shoots were never recovered. The remainder
never germinated. In view of this, it seems likely that an Ac-like
element was activated during the differentiation of the R0 plants. This
element might become inserted into a certain region of a chromosome and
subsequently cause lethal embryos. In consequence of this, the embryos
might not grow. On the other hand, if the element was somehow inactivated,
the embryos might develop into regular plants. Since obtaining a stable
progeny is the prerequisite for the application of plant tissue culture
in crop improvement, it is significant to investigate the mechanism of
low kernel viability of the R0 plants.
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