Inheritance of Semi-Sterility in Maize

Abstract
Semi-sterile plants, which abort 1/2 their pollen grains and embryo sacs, gave equal numbers of normal and semi-sterile offspring when self-pollinated and in reciprocal crosses with normal. A section of 1 chromosome or an entire chromosome is believed to have become attached to a non-homologous member of the complement. Spores receiving the translocated section in duplicate, or lacking it entirely, abort. A new class of plants, called x-normals, was found. These are fully fertile but give all semi-sterile offspring when crossed with the normal type. The evolutionary significance of the phenomenon is discussed.

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