LINDSTROM, GENETICAL RESEARCH WITH MAIZE 329 
DESCRIPTION AND INHERITANCE OF GENETIC CHARACTERS. 
Ear characters. 
Pod or tunicate. This is the one outstanding type (or sub-species) of 
maize that is dominant in inheritance to the ordinary or commercial 
maize that is termed normal. In pod corn the individual grains on the 
ear are covered entirely by the glumes, producing a very peculiar ear. 
The staminate inflorescence (tassel) is also characterized by extraordi- 
narily large and thick glumes.Otherwise the plant resembles the normal. 
Strangely enough the homozygous dominant condition (Tu Tu) is 
almost lethal as far as reproduction is concerned. Such a plant attains 
maturity, but the pistillate inflorescence consists of practically no- 
thing but large, thick glumes. Practicallyno pollen is produced. Well-de- 
veloped ears of pod-corn are always heterozygous (Tu tu). When seed of 
a self-pollinated ear like this, is planted the progeny consists of podded 
and normal plantsin3:1 proportion. Approximatelytwenty fiveper cent 
of the progeny do not set seed and these are the homozygous pod type. 
Ramosa ear.This recessive type of maize is strikingly different from 
the normal. The ear is profusely branched, normal seeds being borne on 
the branches. These branches extend throughout the entire length of 
the main axis of the ear. Ramosa ear is not to be confused with the oc- 
casional branching that occurs at the base of an abnormal ear of corn. 
The staminate inflorescence is distinctly characteristic. Whereas in nor 
mal corn, the tassel has a long unbranched, terminal spike above the 
_ side branches, in ramosa corn the lateral, tassel branches grow up the 
main axis in the form of a spruce tree even to the very tip. 
While there are various secondary modifying factors affecting the 
degree of branching of the ear, the ramosa type exhibits a distinct and 
remarkably constant genetic behaviour. It is a simple recessive cha- 
racter in inheritance. The factor symbol is 7a. 
Pericarp and cob colors. In general red seed coat (pericarp) color is 
dominant in inheritance to white or colorless pericarp. The same is 
true of red and white cob. There are several types of red pericarp color 
however. One shows complete dominance and another incomplete. 
Pericarp and cob colors cannot however be classed as simple in their 
hereditary behaviour. There is a peculiar relationship that exists be- 
tween them. This situation can either be interpreted in terms of com- 
