Abstract

ESPINOZA-VELAZQUEZ, José; VALDES-REYNA, Jesús  and  ALCALA-RODRIGUEZ, José Manuel. Multiple morphology and anatomy radicles in derived maize seedlings from caryopses with polyembryony. Polibotánica [online]. 2012, n.33, pp.207-221. ISSN 1405-2768.

Results related to maize seedlings anatomy and morphology as well as multiple seedlings and radicles per germinated seed are presented. Three populations and their six possible hybrids were used. Two populations are highly polyembryonic (PE) meanwhile the third represents a normal maize type (Non-Polyembryonic). 24 seeds from each genotype were induced to germination. The seedling's anatomy and morphology was studied in three days old seedlings, but the phenotypes and quantification of polyembryony and multiple radicles were done in contemporary seedlings of 10 days of age. Six anatomical variables, valued through longitudinal and transversal histological cuts, were evaluated; also, the multiple radicles and polyembryony proportions were determined. Results indicated that the PE and multiple radicles phenomena were only present in progenies of polyembryonic populations and their respective hybrids. There were cases where polyembryony and multiple radicles were simultaneous in the same seedling; these radicles varied in number and conformation, i.e. cases of two to four seedlings which can be fully separated or sharing some anatomical parts, including the vascular cylinder. The average frequencies for PE and multiple radicles were 62 and 14% respectively. The better values for anatomical and morphological characteristics were shown by some hybrids among the PE x No-PE genotypes; this could mean a positive heterosis which could be agronomically useful in handling them with other germplasm sources.

Keywords : Zea mays L.; polyembryony; multiple radicles per seed; morphology; radicle anatomy.

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