Summary
It is difficult to use opaque-2 hybrids mainly because of their present low yield as compared with that of normal hybrids.
Our studies were based on an experimental design allowing the comparison between 10 normal hybrids and their opaque-2 counterparts.
The differences between normal and opaque-2 hybrids indicate that the opaque-2 (o 2) gene chiefly affects kernel characters, and slightly some other characters.
The observed phenotypical variability is mainly related with genetical causes. This means that the selection for suitable hybrid combinations may lessen the opaque-2 negative effects, which should be possible without modifying the protein quality of the opaque-2 maize.
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Salamini, F., Borghi, B. & Lorenzoni, C. The effect of the opaque-2 gene on yield in maize. Euphytica 19, 531–538 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01902928
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01902928