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Title: Carbohydrate distribution in a sweet maize with the sugar enhanced endosperm genotype

Author
item Russo, Vincent
item Collins, Julie
item Perkins Veazie, Penelope

Submitted to: Cereal Research Communications
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/23/2004
Publication Date: 1/1/2004
Citation: Russo, V.M., Collins, J.K., Perkins Veazie, P.M. 2004. Carbohydrate distribution in a sweet maize with the sugar enhanced endosperm genotype. Cereal Research Communications. 32:347-353.

Interpretive Summary: How sugars move through sweet corn (Zea mays L.) tissues to be deposited in kernels needs to be clarified. Tissues of the sweet corn cultivar 'Summer Flavor #72Y' has the sugar enhanced endosperm type were sampled at developmental stages from juvenile to fresh-market maturity for glucose, fructose and sucrose content. Analysis suggests that patterns of sugar movement through tissues are complex in 'Summer Flavor #72Y'. Understanding how sugar levels in tissues change as plants develop should be helpful in predicting kernel sugar content in improved cultivars, and identify developmental stages, and tissues, which are important in distribution of sugars in sweet corn.

Technical Abstract: Sweet corn (Zea mays L.) kernels are carbohydrate sinks. Stalk tissues can be a sink or a source. Quantity of sugars present in sweet corn tissues, especially those other than kernels, are not well documented. Amounts of fructose, glucose, sucrose and their total in the 9th stalk internode (I9) from the 12-leaf stage (V12) to fresh-market maturity (R3) were determined in 'Summer Flavor #72Y' sweet corn which has the sugar enhanced endosperm type. Developing ears (DE) were sampled at tassel emergence (VN) and silking (R1). Kernels and cob tissue were sampled at blister (R2) and R3 stages. Correlation analysis was performed on percentage of sugars at all developmental stages. Patterns of sugar translocation through tissues are complex in 'Summer Flavor #72Y'. It may be that if physical damage or environmental conditions affect sugar transport early in the season then the plant may have the ability to redirect sugar transport to kernels.