April 1,1920 A Teosinte-Maize Hybrid 37 



alicoles). Dominance of the maize character was complete in the first 

 generation. In the second generation the segregation was not complete, 

 there being many plants with both single and double female alicoles; but 

 the number of individuals in which double female alicoles predominated 

 was approximately three times the number in which there were more 

 single female alicoles. 



It was found that the characters of the pistillate inflorescence were 

 subdivided in transmission to a remarkable degree. Thus the maize 

 ear, instead of behaving as a unit, was subdivided into a large number 

 of separately inherited units, such as number of rows, closely crowded 

 seeds, and shortened peduncles, all of which were inherited more or less 

 independently. Number of rows was still further resolved into paired or 

 single spikelets and the number of rows of alicoles in which they were 

 borne. 



A surprisingly large number of the plants combined the abundant 

 production of suckers characteristic of the teosinte parent with the sturdy, 

 upright character of maize and resulted in very leafy, compact plants 

 of a type that should prove valuable for forage purposes. (See PI. 6, A.) 



It remains to be seen whether the new combinations can be maintained 

 and made to breed true. The results of previous experiments with maize 

 hybrids would indicate that selection for a few generations will fix any 

 desired combination. 



