Comparisons of zein profiles from inbred, F1, and F 2 generations of maize as revealed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Chi-square analyses were performed on zein Chromatographic profiles of inbred lines, F1, F2, and reciprocal F1 seed for 10 hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.). The objective was to test the goodness of fit of observed profiles with those expected on the basis that the F1 and F2 generations represent a 2∶1 and 1∶1 addition of Female∶male parents of the F1, respectively. From 40 available comparisons, 39 showed no difference between the observed chromatograms and those that were expected on the basis of four models that were tested. The one exception was due to closely eluting peaks that were revealed as shoulders and not recorded as separate entities. chromatographic profiles of inbreds, F1, and bulk F2 seed sources can be accurately simulated. Even though the chromatographic profile of the F1 closely resembled that of the female parent, profiles of hybrids with common female but different male parents were distinguishable. The lack of novel peaks in both F1 and F2 generations compared with the inbred line thereby revealed no unpredictable interaction among zein loci. Zein protein data can be useful in registration, certification, and in the checking of hybrid pedigree especially when used in concert with isozymic data.