EVALUATION OF MEIOTIC BEHAVIOR IN DOUBLE-CROSS MAIZE HYBRIDS AND THEIR PARENTS

The evaluation of meiotic behavior in double-cross hybrids and their p arents in three groups with potential for commercial exploitation show ed countless abnormalities. Some were common to all genotypes and occu rred at high frequency, whereas others were more rare and specific for certain genotypes. In all groups, homozygous genotypes exhibited a mu ch higher frequency of irregularities compared to the heterozygous. Al l the abnormalities observed definitely had the potential to impair ga mete viability. In the group that the frequency of meiotic irregularit ies was highest, the double-cross hybrid presented the lowest yield su ggesting that meiotic stability may be one of the components of produc tivity.