Seed Germination in Relation to Total Sugar and Starch in Endosperm Mutant of Sweet Corn Genotypes

Potchanee Pairochteerakul,Kamol Lertrat,Danupol Ketthaisong,Darunee Jothityangkoon,Sakunkan Simla,Bhalang Suriharn

doi:10.3390/agronomy8120299

Potchanee Pairochteerakul, Kamol Lertrat + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy8120299

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Abstract

The use of combinations of two or more genes controlling carbohydrate characters of corn is an attractive way to improve table quality of sweet corn. Poor seed quality of the inbred lines hinders the progress of this strategy for hybrid seed production. The objective of this study was to evaluate sweet corn inbred lines with combinations of double and triple recessive genes for germination percentage, seed vigor, total sugar content, and starch content. Eleven sweet corn genotypes including seven inbred lines (F6 generation) with different combinations of genes controlling carbohydrate characters and four F1 hybrids were used. The germination experiment was conducted under standard test between papers (BP) and accelerated aging (AA) test. The data were recorded for germination percentage, germination speed, normal and abnormal seedling, seedling length, and seedling dry weight. The seeds were analyzed for total sugar and starch content in endosperm at maturity stage. The results showed that single recessive genotype (sh2sh2) had high germination percentage and seedling vigor. The combinations of bt or sh2 gene with wx gene resulted in low germination percentage and poor seedling vigor. However, combinations of triple recessive genes (btbt sh2sh2 wxwx) had good germination in BP test but they performed poorly in AA test.

Highlights

Sweet corn is an important vegetable crop cultivated extensively in the tropical and temperate region of the world
The results of a previous study showed a promising opportunity to develop premium-grade vegetable corn using the combinations of recessive genes [12]
The traits related to seed quality including germination percentage, germination speed, seedling lengths of stem and root, and seedling dry weight were evaluated in 11 corn genotypes, including seven inbred lines and four F1 hybrids

Summary

Introduction

Sweet corn is an important vegetable crop cultivated extensively in the tropical and temperate region of the world. Super sweet corn carries the shrunken gene (sh2) or brittle gene (bt2) and each type has two to three times higher sucrose than su and torpidly converts sucrose into starch in the kernel [2]. Sugary enhancer corn has the se gene, which increases sugar in the endosperm and this gene increases the tenderness of the kernel. These types of sweet corn have recessive genes that increase sugar in endosperm and improve table quality of vegetable corn. The problems of super sweet corn hybrid especially for high-quality varieties (sh, bt2 and se) are poor seed germination, poor seed vigor and poor stand establishment [3], Agronomy 2018, 8, 299; doi:10.3390/agronomy8120299 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy

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