Meiosis in corn

​Cell division in corn growing points including the division of the nuclei by mitosis, in which each of the paired chromosomes are duplicated, resulting in the same genetic codes for each cell. Within the flowers in the tassel and ear meristems, however a different nuclear division occurs resulting in the genetic diversity that has allowed corn to be adapted to multiple environments.
 
One or more of the lateral meristems, which are located at each base of each leaf but attached to the stem node, is stimulated by hormones to produce female flower parts.  In corn each node of the modified lateral meristem includes two ovules, one of which degenerates. The ovule diploid cell undergoes meiosis, initially producing 4 monoploid nuclei but three degenerate, leaving a megaspore cell with one monoploid (haploid) cell. This single set of 10 chromosomes on hybrid plants represents a random mix of chromosomes from each of the hybrid plant’s parents.  Thus, just as with pollen, there is a minimum of 1028 different sets of genetics among the ovules on a single plant.
 
The nucleus of the megaspore cell undergoes three successive mitotic divisions resulting in 8 nuclei and a total of 7 cells.  Most important of these is the egg cell with a single monoploid nucleus and a large central cell with 2 monoploid nuclei.  The central cell is destined to become the endosperm after pollination. Two of the other cells (called synergid cells) adjacent to the egg cell apparently produce attractants to guide the pollen tube to the egg cell. A small opening, called a micropyle, at the tip of the embryo sac, is conveniently located where the silk is attached to the ovule. This composes the embryo sac of the female.
 
Corn apical meristem switches to producing male and female flowering parts, but quickly changes to male development only.  Each glume in the tassel is an individual floret containing three anthers.  Within these immature anthers are hundreds of microspore mother cells in which meiosis occurs.  As a result, each of these cells with 2 sets of the 10 chromosomes (diploid) before meiosis now contain 4 microspores, each with only 1 set of the 10 chromosomes (monoploid).  Whereas the diploid stage in hybrid corn, included 1 set from the parent male parent and 1 from the female, after meiosis, each microspore includes a random mix of two parents.  There are a minimum of 1024 different combinations of the two parental genetics among the microspores. The 4 microspores separate over a 4-day period and begin to become separate pollen grain with thicker walls. Nutrients are absorbed from the liquid contents of the anther during the microspore and pollen grain stages over about 10 days, at least in one study. During this period, the anther dehydrates as it is filled with pollen grain.  By the end of this period, the pollen grain has many starch granules, two haploid nuclei, a thick outer wall and a thin inner one. Total time from beginning of microspore production to mature pollen is 14-17 days. Each pollen grain remains viable for only about two days after maturity and less when under high temperatures.
 
A pore at the end of the anther opens to release the pollen.  This process involves dehydration and is affected by drops in surrounding relative humidity. There is no release during rain and pollen release is common in mornings as relative humidity drops with rising daytime temperatures.
 
Each floret of the tassel has slightly different time of development as the apical meristem expanded.  Consequently, each finishes the process of pollen development at different times, frequently over 10 days. A typical hybrid tassel has about 6000 anthers, although hybrids and environments vary. It is common for a single tassel to produce millions of pollen grains.
 
Meiosis sets the potential for new genetic mixes within the ear shoot and tassel.