Variation in Carbohydrate Composition in the Endosperm of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.) in Relation to Maturity¹

Abstract

Reducing sugars, sucrose, and water‐soluble polysaccharides were quantitatively determined for kernels of eight inbred lines of sweet corn and their Fl combinations, including reciprocals, 25 days after pollination. A second harvest was taken from the inbred parents at 28 days. The inbreds differed significantly for percent moisture and for each carbohydrate fraction. Moisture content and carbohydrate composition changed at significantly different rates for the eight lines.Analysis of covariance was used to remove effects of maturity on F1 kernels. There were highly significant differences among maternal half‐sib groups for percent moisture, reducing sugars, sucrose, and water‐soluble polysaccharides. Differences within half‐sib groups were significant for all variables except reducing sugars. Differences among reciprocal crosses were attributed to maternal effects and gene‐dosage relationships in the endosperm. Regression coefficients showed that content of reducing sugars and sucrose decreased, but content of water‐soluble polysaccharides rapidly increased with advancing maturity.