Inheritance of zeins: The catalogue of zein alleles of three multigenic loci and its potential for maize breeding

Inheritance of zein components in maize has been studied by a high-resoluti on system of acidic continuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This met hod revealed extraordinarily high polymorphism of zeins. Previously, three multigenic loci, Zep1, Zep2 and Zep3, encoding most zein polypeptides were identified. Four other loci control the synthesis of some minor components. Single F-2 grains from 16 hybrid combinations involving 19 inbred lines we re analysed. Correspondingly, 12 and 14 alleles of the Zep1 and the Zep2 lo ci were identified for 19 inbreds. Six alleles of the Zep3 locus were ident ified in five crosses. All 32 alleles of three multigenic loci were include d in the catalogue of zein alleles. Genetic nomenclature for the allele's d esignation is proposed. Such nomenclature is in good agreement with 'a stan dard for maize genetics nomenclature'. The catalogue may serve for practica l use and as basis for more detailed genetic studies of zeins. Practical ap plication of the catalogue in maize breeding is discussed.