Development of Apomictic 56-Chromosomal Maize- Hybrids: A Potential Breakthrough in Heterosis Fixation.

Maize ( L.) is one of the most demanded grain crops in the world. Currently, production has exceeded one billion tons and is increasing by 3-5% annually.

[Chromosome control of apomixis in maize-gamagrass hybrids].

The results of long-term studies on the transmission of the mode of asexual reproduction through seeds to maize from gamagrass, a closely related wild plant, performed in the Laboratory of Plant Cytology and Apomixis are summarized. The first apomictic hybrids between Zea mays and Tripsacum dactyloides were obtained in this laboratory more than 40 years ago and have been maintained until the present time. Cytogenetic studies on the hybrids have shown that at least nine chromosomes of the wild parent are necessary for the expression of asexual reproduction through seeds.