Selection and characterization of a 5-methyltryptophan resistant mutant in Zea mays L.

Summary A maize plant resistant to 5-methyltrytophan (5MT) was selected from M₂ seeds (Zea mays L. Danggin, inbred line) originating from ears treated with ethylmethane sulfonate (0.2%) at 6 hr after self-pollination. Genetic analysis of the progeny of plants selected from a medium containing 50 ppm 5MT showed that 5MT resistance was inherited as a single dominant nuclear gene. This resistance was also expressed in callus and seedling. Analysis of the free amino acids in kernels and calli showed that homozygous resistant plants (MR1) contained higher levels of total free amino acids than sensitive plants and calli. In particular, the their kernels the levels of tryptophan, threonine and serine were, respectively, 4.5, 5.9 and 6.3 times higher than those of the sensitive plants. From the results, it may be expected that mutants resistant to amino acid anologs will be useful not only for studying amino acid biosynthesis but also for improving the nutritional quality of maize.Abbreviations EMS Ethylmethane sulfonate - 5MT 5-methyltryptophan - 2,4-D 2-4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid