Effects of endogamy on microsporogenesis in popcorn
Maria Fernanda Piffer Tomasi Baldez da Silva, Eraldo Ferreira Lopes, Maria Suely Pagliarini, and Carlos Alberto Scapim2
Inbred lines are necessary for the development of popcorn hybrids. Genes for several traits, among them those related to the meiotic process, approach homozygosis during inbreeding. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the meiotic stability of popcorn endogamic lines developed from a triple hybrid in contribution to hybrid breeding programs. The original population (S0) and seven annual self-pollinated generations (S1 to S7) were analyzed. Cytological results were statistically analyzed by linear regression. The frequency of total and terminal chiasmata decreased with endogamy. Meiotic abnormalities also increased with endogamy although their number was not high. Since the frequency of abnormalities was low and did not affect drastically the meiotic product, inbred lines from the hybrid under analysis may have a high potential for the establishment of new popcorn hybrids.