2 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xix, no. i 



The restriction of seed production to southern Florida is probably the 

 chief reason why the use of teosinte is not more general, since it is an 

 excellent forage plant. Where comparative tests have been made, it 

 usually produces a larger tonnage of forage than any other plant. 



It has been pointed out by Gernert^ that teosinte is resistant to the 

 attacks of plant lice, an immunity that it would be desirable to transfer 

 to maize. Teosinte also appears to be more resistant to corn smut than 

 any of the varieties of maize with which we are familiar. Stok^ reports 

 that in Java teosinte is immune to the chlorosis disease of corn. 



Hybrids of maize and teosinte have been grown before, but nothing of 

 commercial importance has thus far been produced. It would seem, 

 however, that if certain combinations of characters could be effected and 

 maintained, the resulting forms would find a place in agriculture. 



One of the objects of the experiment was to determine to what extent 

 the characteristics of the parents would be disassociated in the hybrids. 

 Would the much-branched habit of teosinte continue to be associated 

 with a teosinte-like inflorescence, or would profusely branched plants 

 appear bearing maize-like ears? Would the early maturing plants all 

 be maize-like or would there be early plants having the desirable forage 

 characteristics of teosinte? 



To proceed with any assurance in securing the desired combinations, 

 it would be of advantage to know to what extent the characters can be 

 separated and with what degree of freedom desirable characters from 

 the different parents can be combined. If, as has been stated,^ hybrids 

 of maize and teosinte eventually revert to either one or the other parent, 

 it would be futile to attempt to secure desirable combinations. 



From the standpoint of genetics, the cross is of especial interest, 

 since perhaps nowhere else, with either plants or animals, has it been 

 possible to secure fertile hybrids between two forms separated by such 

 profound structural differences. 



FIRST GENERATION OF TEOSINTE-MAIZE HYBRID 



Several unsuccessful attempts were made to hybridize the Tom Thumb 

 pop corn and the Florida teosinte in the field, the great disparity in their 

 seasons making it difficult to bring them into flower at the same time. 

 These efforts were continued in the greenhouse, and the hybrids were 

 finally secured in the early spring of 1914. 



Because of the peculiar effect of greenhouse conditions, the parental 

 teosinte plants were greatly reduced in size and presented an unusual 



1 Gernert, W. B. aphis immunity of teosinte-corn hybrids. In Science, n. s. v. 46, no. 1190, p. 

 390^392. 1917. 



* STOK, J. E. VAN DER. BESPREKING DER REStJlTATEN VERKREGEN MET DE KRUISING TUSSCHEN ZEA 



MAisL. (mais, djagoeng) (=reanai,uxuriansdur.=teosinte). EN euchlaena mexicana schrad. 

 In Teysmannia, jaarg. 21, afl. i, p. 47-59, i pi. 1910. Abstract in English in Amer. Nat., v. 47, no. s6o, p. 

 S11-512. 1913. 



' Harshberger, J. W. FERTILE CROSSES OP TEosiNTHE AND MAIZE. In Gard. and Forest, v. 9, no. 46a. 

 p. 522-323. 1896. Quotes a letter from Dr. Dug&. 



