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Background: The role of the silkless1 (sk1) gene in developing silkless baby corn, a distinctive trait in maize has been investigated. So far, no sk1 gene-specific marker has been available for accelerated development of silkless baby corn hybrids. Methods & results: We developed sk1 gene-based markers and validated them in backcross (BC) and F2 segregating generations, revealing a polymorphic marker corresponding to a silkless phenotype. Among all the developed markers, the MGU_sk1-1 marker (141 bp size in sk1-mutant allele) validated its association with the silkless trait. The chi square (χ2) analysis revealed that the segregation of alleles Sk1Sk1 (219): Sk1sk1 (414): sk1sk1 (188) is as per the Mendelian ratio (1:2:1) in the F2 population. In 821 F2 plants, we found a 3:1 phenotypic ratio among the population with silked (633) and silkless (188) plants. We studied 349 BC plants and found a 1:1 phenotypic ratio between silked and silkless plants, as well as a genotypic ratio (1:1) between heterozygotes (Sk1sk1) and homozygous recessives (sk1sk1). Additionally, double mutants (sk1sk1/ts1ts1 and sk1sk1/ts2ts2) were identified using the sk1-based marker. Conclusions: This study is the first to show the practical use of sk1 gene in marker-assisted selection (MAS). This research also reports the development of novel genetic resources for innovative silkless baby corn breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In maize, sex is determined by the formation of staminate and pistillate florets from an initially bisexual floral meristem through action of Silkless1 (Sk1), Tasselseed1 (Ts1) and Tasselseed2 (Ts2) genes. In this study, separate temperate donors having mutant sk1 (EC904829 and EC904831), ts1 (EC904827) and ts2 (EC904824) genes were crossed with sub‐tropical inbreds (HKI323 and HKI1105) to investigate the genetics and interaction of silkless and tasselseed traits. The monogenic and nuclear inheritance of sk1, ts1 and ts2 genes was established in a standard Mendelian principles in both monohybrid and dihybrid crosses irrespective of genetic background. About 444 F2 progenies across digenic population ‐A, ‐B and ‐C segregated as 239 normal: 109 silkless: 96 tasselseed, and 377 progenies of digenic populations ‐D, ‐E and ‐F segregated with 214 normal: 79 silkless: 84 tasselseed plants revealing recessive epistatic interaction (9:3:4) of sk1 with two ts mutations (ts1 and ts2). No progeny with both silkless and tasselseed phenotype was observed. The double mutants (sk1sk1/ts1ts1 and sk1sk1/ts2ts2) were identified through progeny testing. Our study emphasize the untapped potential of these mutants, providing a renewed focus for maize breeders worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]