Obţinerea experimentală a formelor tetraploide de porumb Opaque-2

Abstract

The possibility of obtaining autotetraploid maize with the Opaque-2 recessive gene by the mean of colchicine was studied. It was established that colchicine produced chimeric plants distinct from their diploid forms by modifications of the vegetative and generative structures. The habitus of the plants, pollen grain size as well as ear examination were useful criteria for identifying tetraploids. Determination of chromosome number served as a final evidence that tetraploid forms of opaque-2 maize (2n=40) were generated.