Heritability of Variations in Oil Content of Individual Corn Kernels.

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to determine oil content of individual corn kernels in order to evaluate this technique as an aid in the development of strains having greater oil content. This method is rapid and does not impair viability. Individual kernels from a selfed single-cross ear ranged from 2.7 to 5.4 percent oil and were significantly correlated (r = +0.75) with the oil content of their progeny ears. This indicates that the single-kernel differences in oil content were heritable, and this method may greatly increase selection efficiency in breeding for higher oil content in corn.