SPONTANEOUS OCCURRENCE OF GENES MEI AFD AND PO IN BRAZILIAN MAIZE POPULATIONS

Spontaneous occurrence of genes afd (absence of first division) and po (polymitotic) in Brazilian maize populations is reported. Among 59 ho mozygous and heterozygous genotypes analyzed, two inbred lines and a d ouble-cross hybrid presented gene afd, and 11 inbred lines and two dou ble-cross hybrids presented gene po. In both cases, the number of cell s and plants affected by the mutations varied among genotypes. We also describe the peculiarities of gene po expression in relation to previ ous reports.