Chromosome Homology in Races of Maize From Different Geographical Regions

Abstract

Crosses were made between 61 races of maize of diverse geographic origin (5 from Canada, 21 from Central America and 34 from S. America) and stocks carrying known reciprocal translocations, to determine whether a part of the wide variation in the genus is due to structural differences in the chromosomes. Stages in meiosis in the hybrids revealed a regularity of chromosome behavior and a close agreement in size of the members of the pairs. Ring formation typical of the particular translocation involved was found in all but 2 of the hybrids, indicating little, if any, difference in chromosome structure even though some lines may have been grown in isolated regions for many years, perhaps centuries.