ABSTRACT
In this article, endosperm starch grains of eleven lines in multiplasmic maize were studied by scanning electron microscope. The results show that different cytoplasm has different effects on the characters of starch grain. The starch grains of three sweet corn cytoplasmic lines (su1, sh2, btl) are mainly spherical and packed tightly, which means they have some degree of similarity. While the grains of four cytolasmic male sterility lines (T, S, C, 21A) are mostly irregular and packed loosely except (T) Mo17, in which grains are tightly packed. The average diameter of these eleven varieties is ranged from 9.78 microns to 14.69 microns. Through the study of endosperm starch grain shape and size, we tried to explore the relationship between the property of starches and the quality of seeds. And this will significantly prompt the development of maize genetics and breeding.
