A BRACHYTIC VARIATION IN MAIZE. 27 



The new variation appeared in the per jugate generation of the 

 brachytic-Boone hybrid. This variation has been designated " ad- 

 herence." It seems to be completely associated with normal stature 

 and therefore offers no obstacle to securing the combination of high 

 yield and short stature. 



The other variation has appeared in several hybrids with brachytic. 

 In this variation the ears terminate in staminate spikes. These 

 spikes, to a certain extent, develop at the expense of the pistillate por- 

 tion and therefore are undesirable. This variation also appears to 

 be associated with stature, indicating that the genes for these char- 

 acters are located in the same chromosome. The amount of crossing 

 over, however, is relatively large, so that no difficulties are expected 

 in obtaining brachytic plants of high yield free from this defect. 



The close relation of ears terminating in staminate spikes to ears 

 borne as basal branches of the terminal inflorescence is indicated in 

 a hybrid between brachytic and Hopi. The evidence from this 

 hybrid suggests that the ear of maize may have developed from the 

 basal branches of the terminal panicle rather than from the central 

 spike of the terminal inflorescence of a lateral branch of the main 

 culm. 



