Effect of Endosperm Mutants on Pericarp Thickness in Corn1

Pericarp thickness was measured for mutant and normal kernels obtained from ears segregating for various endosperm mutants in the corn (Zea mays L.) inbred lines Oh43 and B37. The pericarp, being maternal tissue, was not greatly influenced by the genotype of the endosperm when averaged over all mutants. In the B37 series, only the pericarp thickness for the sh2 mutant significantly exceeded its normal sibbed kernels. while in the Oh43 series, ae and su2 mutant kernels had significantly thicker pericarp tissue and su1 mutant kernels had thinner pericarp. While significant these differences were small in magnitude. There is a lack of evidence for a metaxenia effect of endosperm phenotype on pericarp thickness when averaged over all nine mutants.