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. 1973 Oct;52(4):350–356. doi: 10.1104/pp.52.4.350

Some Physiological Effects of Viviparous Genes vp1 and vp5 on Developing Maize Kernels 1

George F Wilson a,2, A M Rhodes a, D B Dickinson a
PMCID: PMC366501  PMID: 16658561

Abstract

The effects of two viviparous genes, vp1 and vp5, on development of the maize (Zea mays L.) embryo and endosperm were investigated. Differences between viviparous and normal embryos first appeared at 25 to 30 days after pollination. Increases in fresh weights indicated that viviparous began to grow more rapidly than normal embryos at that time. Amino acids and ethanol-soluble carbohydrates also accumulated more rapidly in viviparous, but a reserve material (lipid) was lower in viviparous than in normal embryos.

The fresh and dry weights and total nitrogen content of endosperms from viviparous resembled those of normal seeds until about 30 days after pollination, but were all lower in viviparous after that time. Pronounced differences in α-amylase activity were not observed until late in development (40 days after pollination) when the enzyme increased in viviparous seeds only. Developmental changes in viviparous seeds generally resemble those of normally germinating seeds.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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