PHOSPHORUS ACCUMULATION IN MAIZE GRAIN IS NOT INFLUENCED BY XENIA (Zea mays L.)

Maize performance trials are often conduct- ed without pollination control. The grain that is produced therefore represents pollen from other entries in the trial. The lack of pollen control can be a problem in determin- ing nutrient composition of the grain if there is a signifi- cant xenia effect on grain composition. The objective of this research was to determine if there is a xenia effect on seed phosphorus (P) concentration in maize. Fifteen di- verse maize inbreds were used as male pollinators onto two hybrids, B73 x Mo17 and Oh43 x W64A, over three years. Seed P concentration (%P) and seed weight (g) were measured and used to calculate total seed P. P con- centration of the inbreds ranged from 0.26 %P in N194 to 0.48 %P in W64A, and P concentration in the hybrids ranged from 0.27 %P to 0.35 %P in (B73 x Mo17) and from 0.30 %P to 0.37 %P in (Oh43 x W64A). A significant xenia effect was found for seed weight, whereas no sig- nificant effect for either seed P concentration or total seed P uptake was observed. Based on this analysis, we con- clude that pollen effects on P accumulation in the maize seed are minimal, and that measurements of P in open- pollinated seed provide an accurate reflection of the ge- netic potential of the female to accumulate P.

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