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Leaf Number – An Index of Meiosis in Corn (Zea mays L.)¹

An index to allow identification of meiotic stages in corn (Zen mays L.) without plant destruction was sought. Plants grown in growth chamber and field were dissected at several leaf-number stages, and florets were sampled from four regions (tip, mid, butt, and branch) of each tassel. Anthers were prepared for microscope examination by the acetocarmine-squash method, and the meiotic stage of each was assayed.

Correlations of meiotic stage with several plant traits showed expanded leaf number to be a better index of meiosis than days after emergence, plant height, or stem diameter. The leaf number associated with a given meiotic stage varied with genotypes and environments, but within genotype-environment combinations the correlations ranged from 0.73 to 0.89. After genotypes and environments had been characterized, leaf nuinber was a reliable index of meiotic stage in corn. Use of the index is limited to genetically homogeneous populations.

Key Words: Anthers

² Assistant Professor and Professor, Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010.

Received for publication March 30, 1970.