ABSTRACT
Vivipary in corn seeds was first described by E. W. Lindstrom and P. C. Mangelsdorf. D. S. Robertson described the pleiotropic effects of many separately mapping genes which caused vivipary in maize. Vivipary in maize is probably controlled by at least two different mechanisms: one related to embryo responsiveness and another related to abscisic acid (ABA) content. Fluridone-induced changes in phytoene content, viability, and vivipary occur only at specific seed ages. Carotenoids may be the precursors of ABA based on the stereochemical similarities of ring structures of carotenes and ABA and on the photoconversion and chemical conversion of violaxanthin to xanthoxin, an ABA-like hormone found in many plants. ABA plays an important role in controlling seed development. Seed viability and dormancy are also only affected by fluridone at certain ages of seed maturation. The induction of dormancy is inhibited by fluridone only if the seeds are treated between 9 and 13 DAP.
