Bob,
Very interesting phenomenon. I, too, was wondering if the translucent
kernels have a viable embryo. Also, were there any common chemical
applications to these fields - and if so, was there a component that could
serve as a mimic of a plant hormone?
-Martha James
>An interesting phenomenon has been reported throughout the eastern Corn Belt
>of the U.S. in recent weeks that has no obvious diagnosis. I would like to
>hear ideas from the Maize news group about possible causes for what I am
>calling, for lack of better descriptions, the Translucent Kernel Syndrome.
>I've described the phenomenon in a recent newsletter article published on
>the Web at
>>http://www.kingcorn.org/news/articles.99/990903.html>>>Two possibilities have been raised as to causes: 1) parthenocarpy and 2) a
>defective kernel mutant.
>>I am also interested in whether others have seen or are seeing this symptom.
>>Thanks,
>>:>)bob
>>From:
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Dr. R.L. (Bob) Nielsen
>Professor of Agronomy
>Agronomy Department/Purdue University
>West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-1150
>>Office ph. 765 494 4802
>Dept. FAX 765 496 2926
>Campus Email: rnielsen at purdue.edu>Home Email: nielsen at gte.net>>Check out the Corn Growers Guidebook at...
>http://www.kingcorn.org>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
===================================================================
Dr. Martha G. James
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology
2152 Molecular Biology Building
Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011
Phone: (515) 294-3818
FAX: (515) 294-0453
e-mail: mgjames at iastate.edu
