Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi-12
1Present address: Regional Research Laboratory (Branch), Sanat Nagar, Srinagar-5, Kashmir.
2Present address: Ford Foundation, 1. Sharia Osiris, Garden City, Cairo, U.A.R.
*Part of the thesis submitted by B. K. Bhat in partial fulfilment of the requirement for Ph.D. Degree of I.A.R.I., New Delhi.
Reciprocal F, crosses were developed between maize varieties from different geographic regions. Four quantitative characters, grain yield, maturity, plant height and ear height were studied. The reciprocal crosses revealed significant cytoplasmic effects on one or more quantitative characters. Cytoplasmic effects were explained on the basis of geographical divergence and plasmon-sensitive genes hypothesis.
Cytoplasm-environment interaction was revealed by obtaining significant cytoplasmic effects on a character in one year but not in another year.
