Francesco Tafuri

IAA determination in the kernels of four lines of corn and of their hybrids

Abstract The variation of concentration of free β-indolacetic acid (IAA) has been studied in the corn kernels of different inbred lines and their single and double crosses, at the early “milk” stage and at the stage of advanced ripeness. IAA was separated by thin-layer chromatography from the plant ethanolic extract. IAA content was determined by absorptivity measurement of eluates in u.v. light. A large decrease of IAA concentration was recorded as the kernels aged, and the single crosses W79A × W75 and 131B × 65B show a higher content compared with the respective parents. The amounts are smaller in double cross.