METHODS TO INCREASE MAIZE HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY
The discovery is in the field of plant breeding and improvement, related specifically to a hybrid field corn seed production method that utilizes floret development variant donors as female inbreds or modified inbreds. The methods increase yield in a production field and speeds and aids production. Also provided are field corn ears with the floret development phenotype and seed from the ears.
1 . Field corn ears containing kernels with non-uniform rowing and uniform seeds of small to medium size and flat shape.
2 . Seed of the field corn ears of claim 1 .
3 . The seed of claim 2 , further comprising a seed treatment.
4 . A method of hybrid seed production for field corn, said method comprising:
a. planting floret development variant donors as females in a hybrid corn production field;
b. harvesting ears from the females; and
c. obtaining hybrid field corn seed from the ears.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said floret development variant donors are inbreds or modified inbreds.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said floret development variant donors are detasseled prior to anthesis.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said floret development variant donors are male-sterile.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method produces uniform seed lots of small to medium flat seeds.
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method increases seed production yield.
10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method minimizes post-harvest processing damage to seed.
11 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method reduces seed drying time.
12 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method facilitates the removal of the seed from the ears.
13 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method decreases seed processing equipment wear and tear and maintenance.
14 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method reduces or eliminates the need for seed size sorting.
15 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said method increases seed treatment uniformity and efficiency.