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Effect of Endosperm Mutants on Drying Rate in Corn (Zea mays L.)¹

Nine endosperm mutants in three hybrid backgrounds were used to study the effect of the endosperm of the corn (Zea mays L.) kernel on drying rate. Drying rate was determined by the percent moisture loss from husked ears in a forced-air dryer at 38 C for 24 hours.

Dull, ae, sh₁, and su₁ had a significantly greater drying rate than normal at each of the seven harvests from 35 to 77 days after pollination. Opaque-2 showed a significantly greater drying rate at the first five harvests. Sugary-2 had a significantly lower drying rate than normal at the first five harvests, while h was significantly lower than normal at 35 and 70 days after pollination. Floury-1 and wx did not differ significantly in drying rate from normal at any of the harvests.

A relationship was found between percent moisture and drying rate per ear within harvest dates. Osmotic pressure increased as days to harvest increased but was not correlated with drying rate.

It is proposed that drying rate is regulated in part by hydrophilic compounds in the endosperm of the corn kernel.

Key Words: Maize • Mutants • Drying rate • Endosperm

² Formerly Graduate Assistant (now Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Agronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65201) and Associate Professor of Agronomy, Purdue University.

Received for publication July 23, 1969.