Figure 1.

Heterosis in Maize.

Representative individuals from two inbred maize lines (B73 [far left] and Mo17 [far right]) and the progeny of reciprocal hybrid crosses (B73/Mo17 [left center] and Mo17/B73 [right center]; the female parent is listed first in maize genetics nomenclature) are shown. B73 and Mo17 are two high-quality inbred lines. Nonetheless, the progeny of a hybrid cross between these two lines are taller and more productive than either parent, illustrating the concept of heterosis.