[Creation of maize lines inducing maternal haploids with high frequency]

Abstract

The new inducers of maternal haploids have been created. The results on their inducing capacity in crossing with MK01u and A619 lines and MK01u x A619 hybrid are presented. Pollination with pollen of the new inducers allowed to obtain in average 6.5% of haploids among the three maternal genotypes. The ZMS and KMS initial lines induced 2.3% and 2.0% of haploids respectively. The frequency of haploids was studied in different parts of ears. It was found that in the higher part of an ear where the egg cells are the youngest during flowering the frequency of haploids was almost three times higher than in the lower part of an ear and more than twice higher than in the middle part of an ear. It was assumed that early pollination may increase frequency of obtaining haploids.