Identification of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars by the surface relief of the kernel pericarp

Abstract

The relief of the outer surface of the kernel pericarp of 17 cultivars was examined to determine if relief characteristics could be used to describe and distinguish cultivars. Distinct differences in pattern, cell relief height and cell width were found among the cultivars. Over all cultivars, the means ranged from 1.00 to 2.98 μm for cell relief height and from 15.3 to 27.6 μm for cell width. Comparisons of single cross hybrids having all possible combinations of C103 and Oh43 as the female parent and Ag13 and R177 as the male parent indicated that the differences involving only one parent could be readily detected. The results indicated that relief patterns are quite cultivar-specific and could be used to describe and distinguish cultivars.