The Genetics of Vivipary in Maize.

REMATURE germinating seeds have been observed in various plants, including P lemons, oranges, melons, wheat and rye. However, in none of these is there any good indication that the premature germination is the result of changes in the germ plasm. Only in maize has the genetic control of this phenomenon been clearly demonstrated. Such mutants have been described by MANGELSDORF (1923,1926, and 1930), LINDSTROM (1923), EYSTER (1924a, 192413 and 1931b) and SPRAGUE (1936). These mutants are characterized by seeds that germinate while still attached to the ear, before full maturity has been reached. Usually the germination involves only the plumule with little or no germination of the radicle. Only in an occasional seed will both the root and plumule germinate prematurely. Early reports of vivipary in maize by LINDSTROM (1923), MANGELSDORF (1923) and EYSTER (1924a and 1924b) were mainly descriptive. In later papers MANGELSDORF (1926 and 1930) described intercrosses of several viviparous mutants and was able to demonstrate a total of six different loci responsible for premature germination. In addition he postulated nine loci to explain aberrant ratios. EYSTER (1931a and 1931b) presented linkage data for four viviparous mutants: some of which will be considered below.