Male gametophyte in maize: Influences of the gametophytic genotype

Abstract
Size and variation in pollen samples were investigated in several successively selfed generations. A significant decrease in mean diameter of pollen grains accompanied inbreeding; also decreased variation in pollen size from individual plants was observed. Since loss of developmental homeostasis in the sporophyte could affect variation in the gametophyte, sporophytic characters were observed as a control. The main conclusion reached in this study was that pollen diameter is influenced by the gametophytic genotype.