FREE AMINO ACID DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CYTOPLASMIC MALE STERILE AND NORMAL FERTILE ANTHERS

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Abstract
Cytoplasmically inherited male sterility in maize, as first described by Rhoades, is inherited independently of chromosomal genes and is transmitted only through the ovules. Other sources of cytoplasmic male sterility in maize behave similarly. Although much is known about both the hereditary behavior and the commercial utilization of cytoplasmic sterility in maize, relatively little is known concerning the mechanism by which pollen abortion is brought about. The present investigation was undertaken in an attempt to study the latter phase of the problem. Certain differences between the anthers of male sterile and male fertile plants as revealed by the method of paper chromatography are: Sterile anthers show a precocious accumulation of alanine, a greater accumulation of asparagine, and a lack of proline, as compared with normal fertile anthers.

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