Pollen Tube Establishment and the Deficiency of Waxy Seeds in Certain Maize Crosses

Abstract

In a study of the rates of germination of pollen and the establishment of the pollen tubes of Su Wx, Su wx, su Wx and su wx genotypes, pollen grains bearing the Wx gene germinated and became established in the silk more rapidly than those bearing wx. In the presence of homozygous su, pollen bearing the wx gene is still further retarded in germination and establishment. There appears to be no significant difference in rate of growth of the 4 types of gametophytes after establishment. The relative differences in rate of germination and establishment are believed to be sufficient to account for the usual deficiency of waxy seeds in crosses in which the [male] parent is heterozygous for the allelomorphic pair Wx wx.