A novel procedure was used to test for single locus heterosis in a substantially isogenic background in corn, (Zea mays L.). It was determined that the rd gene and its rdPw allele do not contribute to single locus heterosis for plant height. To explain why C30 induces heterosis in F1 hybrids, while ‘Pee Wee’ is relatively impotent, a hypothesis is proposed to the effect that C30 evolved from P39 by the addition of a mutagenic and heterotic duplicated chromosomal segment when Rd mutated to rd. In turn, ‘Pee Wee’ developed with the loss of the segment at the time rd mutated to rdPw.
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