Some Effects of High Temperature on Polyploidy and Other Variations in Maize
- 1 March 1932
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Vol. 18 (3) , 222-229
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.18.3.222
Abstract
Temperatures of 38-45[degree]C. were applied to the proem-bryos and seedlings of maize, several hourly treatments being given at intervals of 4 hours or longer. The treatments resulted in the production of (1) tetraploid and octoploid individuals and tetraploid chimeras, (2) chromosomal deficiencies and translocations, (3) defective and scarred endosperms, germless kernels and atypical plants, (4) sterilization of ovules and pollen at the higher temperatures, and (5) disturbances of the normal fertilization process. Such treatments applied to the very young embryo provide an effective means of inducing polyploidy in sexually reproducing forms. It is suggested that high temperatures may have played an important role in the production of polyploids and other variations in nature, since plants in their natural environment not infrequently are subjected to temperatures as high or higher than those utilized in these experiments.This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:
- RECOVERY FOLLOWING GENETIC DEFICIENCY IN MAIZEProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1930
- THE MEASUREMENT OF GENE MUTATION RATE IN DROSOPHILA, ITS HIGH VARIABILITY, AND ITS DEPENDENCE UPON TEMPERATUREGenetics, 1928