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Inheritance of a New Brachyism in Corn, Zea mays L.¹

The mode of inheritance for a new brachyism in Zea mays L., which shortens the internodes of the plant only above the top ear, was studied using the partitioning method of analysis. Chi-square values for the F₂ frequency distribution suggest that two major pairs of genes differentiate the parents used. The genes for nonbrachyism showed a partial phenotypic dominance in the F₁ of three families. In a fourth family, partial phenotypic dominance for brachyism occurred, but genic dominance was toward the nonbrachytic character.

Estimates of heritability in the narrow sense for families 1 and 4 were .85 while families 2 and 3 had .29 and _*.34, respectively. A negative association with an average r value of _*.41 occurred between the brachytic trait and plant height, whereas the average positive value between brachyism and stalk diameter was only .18. Ear height and brachyism were correlated significantly in family 1. Ear number per plant and ear weight showed no significant correlation with brachyism at the 40,772 plant population per hectare (16,500 per acre).

These results indicate the possibility of the breeder using this new brachyism to lower plant height without altering ear height and of developing a plant with a new type of canopy for more efficient use of light in high plant populations.

Key Words: Association of characters • Canopy • Heritability • Plant height • Dwarfness

² NDEA Fellow and Professor of Plant Genetics.

Received for publication October 26, 1972.