Gene Effects on Kernel Moisture and Sugars of Near-Isogenic Lines of Sweet Corn
1978
Soberalske, R. M. | Andrew, R. H.
Numerous genes affect carbohydrate composition of the endosperm of corn (Zea mays L.). The objective of this study was to measure the effect of 10 gene combinations on level, rate of change, and interrelationships of kernel moisture and sugars during the first 4 weeks after pollination as influenced by the modifier complexes of seven adapted sweet corn inbreds. Four genes influencing endosperm carbohydrates, dull (du), sugary-2 (su₂), waxy (wx), and shrunken-2 (sh₂), and one double combination (du wx), each in association with the sugary-1 alleles (Su₁ and su₁), were incorporated into adapted sweet corn inbreds to give seven near-isogenic series. Determinations were made of moisture, reducing sugars, sucrose, and total sugars at four successive harvests. The sh₂, gene, and to a lesser extent the du wx combination, show promise for improved kernel moisture and total sugars and for reduced rates of loss of these components as compared to sweet corn presently in use (su₁ for processing. In view of the marked differences in the expression of these genes in the inbreds studied here it is desirable to incorporate them into a broad range of germplasm in a search for modifiers that will further improve and utilize their potential in hybrid combinations.
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