Summary
Various opaque-2 and analogous normal single, 3-way and double crosses and their parents have been compared for their ability to germinate at low temperatures in cold tests. It has been found that the o 2 types are nearly 35% inferior to their normal analogues in their cold tolerance. The difference is statistically highly significant. Also the percent emergence and the time of germination both are affected adversely by the presence of the o 2 gene in recessive homozygous condition. The results are discussed in the light of, first, the pleotropic effects of the o 2 gene, second, the thicker pericarp of the o 2 kernels and third, the later maturity of the o 2 grains possessing a higher grain moisture at the time of harvest than their normal analogues.
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Gupta, D., Kovács, I. Cold tolerance of parents, single, 3-way and double crosses of opaque-2 maize inbreds and their normal analogues. Euphytica 24, 245–250 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00147193
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00147193