maize mutant phenotypes

Tassel seed Ts3 tassel has intermittent sections of fertile normal appearing pistillate and normal staminate flowers. Tassel ears are small but have no husks. Compare with Ts-2620. (Photo courtesy E. Irish.)

Tassel seed Emerging tassel of a homozygous Ts*-N1374 mutant plant, showing mass of silks, indicating extensive development of female florets.

Tassel seed A flowering tassel from a Ts*-N1374/+ heterozygous mutant plant showing silks and clusters of female florets on tips of lower tassel branches. Like Ts5.

tassel seed Top of a ts1 mutant plant showing a large pendant pistillate tassel; only if removed, will a small ear with irregular kernel placement develop in the normal position. (photo courtesy M. Johri.)

Tassel Seed Ear from original Ts*-N2620/+ heterozygous chimeric mutant plant showing normal ear with smaller appendage ear with separate husks and silks attached to the base.

Tassel Seed A mature tassel of a Ts*-H2651/+ heterozygous mutant plant from outcross by W23 showing an open-branched tassel covered with fuzzy abnormal female florets and prolific silks; top of main spike has scattered anthers with viable pollen.

Tassel Seed Original Ts*-N2620/+ heterozygous chimeric mutant plant showing slender tassel with irregular placed branches and a few florets with silks on one side at the base of the tassel.

Tassel Seed Homozygous Ts*-N2620 mutant plant from a heterozygous sib cross showing the terminal inflorescence replaced by a cluster of leaves surrounding a hidden primitive tassel primordium.

Tassel Seed A Ts*-2620/+ mutant plant from a cross on Mo20w showing a terminal inflorescence consisting of a strong tassel with branches at the tip surrounded at its base by a cluster of 5 fully formed ears with husks and fertile silks. Heterozygotes from crosses on other inbreds produce more typical simple Ts tassels

Tassel seed Tassels of homozygous Ts*-N1374 mutant plants, showing proliferation of silks and female florets in tassel.

Tassel Seed Heavy tassel of a homozygous a Ts*-H2651 mutant plant from sib heterozygote showing reduced stature with slender zigzag culm and heavy drooping tassel consisting of tightly closed branches with female florets and mass of silks.