Development of wild type, shrunken-1 and shrunken-2 maize kernels grown in vitro.

Kernels of wild type maize (Zea mays L.) and the mutants shrunken-1 and shrunken-2 developed as much as in vivo when excised at five days post-pollination and grown in culture using existing methods. Mature kernels from culture exhibited their expected phenotypes. Starch, sugar and enzyme levels of kernels grown in culture were similar to those known to occur in kernels of the same genotypes grown in vivo. Differences in percentage germination of kernels grown in vitro were similar to those of kernels grown in vivo.