Some Properties of Starches of Opaque-2, Sugary-2 Opaque-2, and Waxy Opaque-2 Mutants of Two Broad-Based Synthetic Cultivars of Maize

Abstract

Starches of the opaque-2, sugary-2 opaque-2 and waxy opaque-2 endosperm mutants of two broad-based synthetic cultivars (Temp HA and Temp HB) of maize adapted to the more temperate areas of the world are, in general, similar to the respective starches of inbred maize background with regard to amylose percentage and the distribution of linear α-D-(1→4) linked unit-chains of amylopectin, starch-granule susceptibility to amylases, and properties examined by X-ray diffracto-metry and photopastegraphy. Changes in starch content and morphology of starch granules by scanning electron microscopy in dissected endo-sperms of the two broad-based synthetic maize cultivars following germi-nation 0, 2, 4 and b days after planting were also investigated.