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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #92187
Title: POLLINATION METHOD AND GROWING LOCATION: IMPACT ON THE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF CORN HYBRIDS

Author
item KRIEGER, K - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Pollak, Linda
item BRUMM, T - MBS INCORPORATED
item WHITE, PAMELA - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Corn Utilization Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Effects of three pollination methods on fatty-acid composition of twenty- four dent corn hybrids were studied to determine the importance of self- pollination on oil quality and the potential for eliminating this expensive and time-consuming procedure. Hybrids were planted at two Iowa locations, Story City and Ames. At Story City, hybrids received three pollination treatments: self-pollination, small-plot, open-pollination (representing yield test plots), and large-plot, open-pollination (representing a farmer's field). Self-pollinated and small-plot, open-pollinated corn were grown in two-row plots, whereas large-plot, open-pollinated corn was grown in a plot of 12.8 m x 8 rows. Hybrids at Ames were either self-pollinated or large-plot, open-pollinated. Fatty-acid compositions of all corn oil samples were determined. Mean fatty-acid percentages differed (P < 0.05) among pollination methods and locations. The Story City location had more fatty-acid content differences among pollination methods than did the Ames location. At Story City, pollination method influenced mean percentage values for specific fatty acids (P < 0.05). At Ames, mean percentages for specific fatty acids did not change appreciably (P < 0.05). Because of differences in some fatty acids associated with pollination methods at one of the two locations, self-pollination is recommended for research purposes; however, the practical differences were small and not important for purposes of mass seed production.