No. 566] INHERITANCE IN EARS OF MAIZE 115 



heritance just as if they were hybrids between self-red 

 and variegated races or between self-red and non-red 

 races, the behavior in any given case depending upon 

 whether the parent variegated ears were homozygous or 

 heterozygous for variegated pericarp and whether they 

 were self-pollinated or crossed with white. 



It is suggested that these results may be interpreted by 

 the assumption that a genetic factor for variegation, V, 

 is changed to a self-color factor, S, in a somatic cell. All 

 pericarp cells directly descended from this modified cell 

 will, it is assumed, develop color, and of the gametes aris- 

 ing from such modified cells one half will carry the 8 

 factor and one half the V factor if only one of the two V 

 factors of the somatic cells is changed, or all such gametes 

 will carry S if both V factors are changed. 



The V factor is thought of as a sort of temporary, re- 

 cessive inhibitor that sooner or later permanently loses 

 its power to inhibit color development, becoming thereby 

 an S factor. Or it may be that the dominant factor, S, 

 is temporarily inactive, but sooner or later becomes per- 

 manently active. Again, the 8 factor may repeatedly 

 arise de novo. The cause of any such change in factors 

 is beyond intelligent discussion at present. 



The results of Correns with Mirabilis and of de Vries 

 with Antirrhinum are shown to be subject to the same 

 analysis as that used to interpret the results secured with 

 maize. 



