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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #73815
Title: POLLEN INTRUSION, QUANTITATIVE IMPLICATION ON GENETIC PURITY IN MAIZE

Author
item Westgate, Mark
item LAUER, M - PIONEER HI-BRED, INTL.
item WICKS III, Z - SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The quantity and quality of hybrid corn seed production depends, in part, on the timing, intensity and duration of pollen shed by the male parent. Limited pollen production, or poor synchrony of floral development with the female parent can lead to low seed yield and an increased probability of outcrossing with foreign pollen. Typically, variation in pollen shed among gmale parents and floral asynchrony have been managed by altering planting patterns and planting dates within the production field. The success of this pragmatic approach could be improved substantially if quantitative measures of floral fecundity and synchrony were used to characterize the inbred parents. Computer-based techniques developed to quantify pollen shed and silk emergence in the field indicate a minimum rate of pollen shed of 100 grains cm**-2 day**-1 is required during silk emergence to ensure >99% pollination of receptive silks on the first day they are exposed. Lesser rates of pollen shed during silk emergence will decrease seed yield and increase the risk of producing hybrid seed with unacceptable levels of genetic purity. A quantitative analysis of pollen production and dispersal can be used to optimize hybrid seed production, grain yield, and kernel composition.