Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1985

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Plant Science

First Advisor

Zeno W. Wicks III

Abstract

Corn (Zea Mays L.), an annual crop, can be severely damaged by late spring frosts. Damage would be especially critical if the growing point were killed. To decrease the possibility that corn may be subjected to freezing conditions, shorter season corn could be planted later in the year. Another possibility, however, would be to develop varieties which could withstand freezing conditions. Due to the problem of spring frosts, the following research was performed with the long range goal of releasing a freeze resistant corn line. The initial stages of the research were to develop a method for screening corn inbred lines for freezing resistance. The method developed was to grow lines in a greenhouse and then subject them to a freezing cycle in the growth chamber. Eighty-eight lines were screened for freezing resistance by this method. In addition, the effects of various water stress conditions on freezing ·of corn inbred lines were investigated. Since the use of a freezing cycle renders susceptible plants useless, a method of screening for freeze resistance without a freezing cycle was also studied. These methods included a relative measure of ice nucleating bacteria, and measurement of various water relationships. The final stages of the research was to begin work with the inheritance of freezing resistance.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Corn -- Breeding
Corn -- Frost protection
Corn -- Thermal properties

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

83

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

No Copyright - United State
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/

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