Anatomical tool for maize seedling ploidy identification and potential use in the double haploid obtainment process

Abstract

Studies that optimize maize (Zea mays L.), haploid identification and removal technique lineages are of great importance for crop production. Although morphological markers are commonly used, there is a strong influence of the environment. We aimed to study the use of anatomical analysis tools in young maize leaves as indirect markers for ploidy identification. Hybrids were crossed with the KEMS haploid inducer. The seeds crossed were selected according to the R-navajo marker and submitted to two different protocols of chromosome duplication. After the self-polinization of the DH0 plants, the DH1 seeds were taken to the field and divided into treatments according to the parental and duplication protocols. Leaf tissue samples were collected to evaluate the amount of DNA, identify ploids and perform anatomical analysis at the V4 stage. The nuclear DNA review of each sample was performed for the comparison in histograms of the position of the G1 peak to the G1 peak of the internal or external reference standard. A high accuracy came to validate an anatomical tool, through the variables studied in this work, as a marker in the differentiation of ploidy in maize plants, and it can be used in selection programs. The anatomy tool, together with the flow cytometry technique, can be used as an indirect method in haploid cutting programs at the initial stage of seedling identification.