826 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



development of the growing point of the ear. This results in the formation 

 of a number of cell complexes with and without the factor for black color. 



Xenia in barley, M. S6 and Y. Imai (Bot. Mag. [Tokyo], S2 (1918), No. SS2, 

 pp. 205-214). — Stating that the grain color studied by Miyazawa as noted above 

 is due to a pigment located in the aleurone cells which form the outer layers 

 of the endosperm, the authors report the results of observations made on about 

 10,000 grains from Fi plants of several barley crosses, involving whitish yellow 

 and so-called blue grained sorts. They found a segregation of approximately 

 three blue grains to one whitish yellow individual, and from this they con- 

 clude that grain color in barley is transmitted by xenia. They also deem it 

 probable that about one-half of the whitish yellow grains classified as such by 

 Miyazawa were, in fact, dilute blue, their observations revealing various degrees 

 of intensity of the blue color. 



An early paper on maize crosses, H. F. Roberts {Anier. Xat., 5S (1919), No. 

 625, pp. 97-108, figs. 2). — The author reviews a paper by McCluer, dealing with 

 crossing experiments with corn previously noted (E. S. R., 4, p. 134), which 

 he believes has lacked adequate appreciation by later investigators. 



Chimeras in corn hybrids, J. L. Collins (Jour. Heredity, 10 (1919), Xo. 1, 

 pp. 2-10, figs. 7). — The author describes a grain of dent corn appearing among 

 the purple starchy Fi progeny of a cross between Extra Early Adams white 

 dent and Black Mexican sweet corn, in which one-half of the grain was white 

 and the other half dark purple in color. The F a progeny of this grain ap- 

 proximated the expected dihybrid ratio in a cross in which starchy endosperm 

 and purple aleurone were dominant characters. Among the 1.0S3 grains com- 

 prising the Fi progeny, 12 showed the reappearance of the mosaic pattern ex- 

 hibited by the parent ; but this number is deemed to be insufficient to indicate 

 Mendelian inheritance. Similar phenomena observed by other investigators in 

 corn and several plant genera are briefly noted and evidence is presented which 

 is believed to disprove the theory of an independent development of the second 

 pollen tube nucleus and the endosperm nucleus, a factor mutation occurring in 

 a single somatic cell and producing a chimera being regarded as a more probable 

 explanation. 



The appearance of a half purple and half white sweet grain among the F, 

 progeny is expected to furnish proof supporting the mutation hypothesis, for " if 

 the progeny from this grain gives evidence that the embyro is homozygous for 

 the purple color, then the change from purple to white in the aleurone can 

 only have come about by somatic mutation in the manner herein described,'' 

 whereas if this grain proves to be heterozygous for purple and for white, " no 

 violence will be done to our mutation conception of the origin of the chimera." 



Proceedings of the Nebraska Corn Improvers' Association [Arm. Rpt. Nebr. 

 Coiti Improvers' Assoc, 9 (1918), pp. S5-59, 92-100, 125-1SS. tips. 15).— This 

 comprises a report of the ninth annual meeting of the association held at 

 Lincoln in January, 191S. The following papers were presented: The Seed 

 Corn Problem, by T. A. Kiesselbach; The Value of Continuing Competitive Corn 

 Exhibits, by F. J. Rist ; The Futility of the "Pretty Ear" Corn Show, by E. 

 Hopt; Relation of Climate to Crops, by G. A. Loveland ; Emergency and Special 

 Purpose Crops, by L. L. Zook ; and Corn as a Factor in the Development of 

 Agriculture in Nebraska, by S. C. Bassett. 



Corn production in Brazil, 1916-17 (Kstinwtiva da Produccdo do MitkO vo 

 Brazil (Safra dc 1916-17). Rio de Janeiro. Brazil: Mit). Agr.. Indus. <• Tow., 

 pp. 92, pis. 4)- — Considerable statistical information is given relative to the 

 acreage and yield of corn in BraziL. 



