Inbred maize line PHO2T

An inbred maize line, designated PH02T, the plants and seeds of inbred maize line PH02T, methods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred line PH02T with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH02T with another maize line or plant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is in the field of maize breeding, specifically relating to 
an inbred maize line designated PH02T. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The goal of plant breeding is to combine in a single variety or hybrid 
various desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may include 
resistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat and drought, 
reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomic 
quality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plant 
characteristics such as germination and stand establishment, growth rate, 
maturity, and plant and ear height, is important. 
Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of the plant's 
method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen from one 
flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the same plant. A 
plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower on a different 
plant. 
Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type for many 
generations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce a 
uniform population of true breeding progeny. A cross between two different 
homozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybrid plants that may 
be heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of two plants each 
heterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce a population of hybrid 
plants that differ genetically and will not be uniform. 
Maize (zea mays L.), often referred to as corn in the United States, can be 
bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination techniques. Maize has 
separate male and female flowers on the same plant, located on the tassel 
and the ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs in maize when wind 
blows pollen from the tassels to the silks that protrude from the tops of 
the ears. 
A reliable method of controlling male fertility in plants offers the 
opportunity for improved plant breeding. This is especially true for 
development of maize hybrids, which relies upon some sort of male 
sterility system. There are several options for controlling male fertility 
available to breeders, such as: manual or mechanical emasculation (or 
detasseling), cytoplasmic male sterility, genetic male sterility, 
gametocides and the like. 
Hybrid maize seed is typically produced by a male sterility system 
incorporating manual or mechanical detasseling. Alternate strips of two 
maize inbreds are planted in a field, and the pollen-bearing tassels are 
removed from one of the inbreds (female). Providing that there is 
sufficient isolation from sources of foreign maize pollen, the ears of the 
detasseled inbred will be fertilized only from the other inbred (male), 
and the resulting seed is therefore hybrid and will form hybrid plants. 
The laborious, and occasionally unreliable, detasseling process can be 
avoided by using cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plants of a CMS 
inbred are male sterile as a result of factors resulting from the 
cytoplasmic, as opposed to the nuclear, genome. Thus, this characteristic 
is inherited exclusively through the female parent in maize plants, since 
only the female provides cytoplasm to the fertilized seed. CMS plants are 
fertilized with pollen from another inbred that is not male-sterile. 
Pollen from the second inbred may or may not contribute genes that make 
the hybrid plants male-fertile. Seed from detasseled fertile maize and CMS 
produced seed of the same hybrid can be blended to insure that adequate 
pollen loads are available for fertilization when the hybrid plants are 
grown. 
There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterility available, 
such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations within the genome that 
confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,654,465 and 
4,727,219 to Brar et al. and chromosomal translocations as described by 
Patterson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511. These and all patents 
referred to are incorporated by reference. In addition to these methods, 
Albertsen et al., of Pioneer Hi-Bred, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 
07/848,433, have developed a system of nuclear male sterility which 
includes: identifying a gene which is critical to male fertility; 
silencing this native gene which is critical to male fertility; removing 
the native promoter from the essential male fertility gene and replacing 
it with an inducible promoter; inserting this genetically engineered gene 
back into the plant; and thus creating a plant that is male sterile 
because the inducible promoter is not "on" resulting in the male fertility 
gene not being transcribed. Fertility is restored by inducing, or turning 
"on", the promoter, which in turn allows the gene that confers male 
fertility to be transcribed. 
There are many other methods of conferring genetic male sterility in the 
art, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. These methods use a variety 
of approaches such as delivering into the plant a gene encoding a 
cytotoxic substance associated with a male tissue specific promoter or an 
antisense system in which a gene critical to fertility is identified and 
an antisense to that gene is inserted in the plant (see: Fabinjanski, et 
al. EPO 89/3010153.8 publication no. 329,308 and PCT application 
PCT/CA90/00037 published as WO 90/08828). 
Another system useful in controlling male sterility makes use of 
gametocides. Gametocides are not a genetic system, but rather a topical 
application of chemicals. These chemicals affect cells that are critical 
to male fertility. The application of these chemicals affects fertility in 
the plants only for the growing season in which the gametocide is applied 
(see Carlson, Glenn R., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,904). Application of the 
gametocide, timing of the application and genotype specificity often limit 
the usefulness of the approach. 
The use of male sterile inbreds is but one factor in the production of 
maize hybrids. The development of maize hybrids requires, in general, the 
development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines, and 
the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection 
breeding methods are used to develop inbred lines from breeding 
populations. Breeding programs combine the genetic backgrounds from two or 
more inbred lines or various other germplasm sources into breeding pools 
from which new inbred lines are developed by selfing and selection of 
desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with other inbred lines 
and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated to determine which of 
those have commercial potential. Plant breeding and hybrid development are 
expensive and time consuming processes. 
Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, each of which 
may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking in the 
other or which complements the other. If the two original parents do not 
provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can be included in 
the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superior plants are 
selfed and selected in successive generations. In the succeeding 
generations the heterozygous condition gives way to homogeneous lines as a 
result of self-pollination and selection. Typically in the pedigree method 
of breeding five or more generations of selfing and selection is 
practiced: F.sub.1 .fwdarw.F.sub.2 ; F.sub.3 .fwdarw.F.sub.4 ; F.sub.4 
.fwdarw.F.sub.5, etc. 
Recurrent selection breeding, backcrossing for example, can be used to 
improve an inbred line. Backcrossing can be used to transfer a specific 
desirable trait from one inbred or source to an inbred that lacks that 
trait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing a superior 
inbred (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrent parent), that 
carries the appropriate gene(s) for the trait in question. The progeny of 
this cross is then mated back to the superior recurrent parent followed by 
selection in the resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred 
from the non-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations 
with selection for the desired trait, the progeny will be heterozygous for 
loci controlling the characteristic being transferred, but will be like 
the superior parent for most or almost all other genes. The last backcross 
generation is then selfed to give pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) 
being transferred. 
A single cross maize hybrid results from the cross of two inbred lines, 
each of which has a genotype that complements the genotype of the other. 
The hybrid progeny of the first generation is designated F.sub.1. In the 
development of commercial hybrids only the F.sub.1 hybrid plants are 
sought. Preferred F.sub.1 hybrids are more vigorous than their inbred 
parents. This hybrid vigor, or heterosis, can be manifested in many 
polygenic traits, including increased vegetative growth and increased 
yield. 
The development of a maize hybrid involves three steps: (1) the selection 
of plants from various germplasm pools for initial breeding crosses; (2) 
the selfing of the selected plants from the breeding crosses for several 
generations to produce a series of inbred lines, which, although different 
from each other, breed true and are highly uniform; and (3) crossing the 
selected inbred lines with different inbred lines to produce the hybrid 
progeny (F.sub.1). During the inbreeding process in maize, the vigor of 
the lines decreases. Vigor is restored when two different inbred lines are 
crossed to produce the hybrid progeny (F.sub.1). An important consequence 
of the homozygosity and homogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybrid 
between a defined pair of inbreds will always be the same. Once the 
inbreds that give a superior hybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed 
can be reproduced indefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred 
parents is maintained. 
A single cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed to 
produce the F.sub.1 progeny. A double cross hybrid is produced from four 
inbred lines crossed in pairs (A.times.B and C.times.D) and then the two 
F.sub.1 hybrids are crossed again (A.times.B).times.(C.times.D). Much of 
the hybrid vigor exhibited by F.sub.1 hybrids is lost in the next 
generation (F.sub.2). Consequently, seed from hybrids is not used for 
planting stock. 
Hybrid seed production requires elimination or inactivation of pollen 
produced by the female parent. Incomplete removal or inactivation of the 
pollen provides the potential for self pollination. This inadvertently 
self pollinated seed may be unintentionally harvested and packaged with 
hybrid seed. 
Once the seed is planted, it is possible to identify and select these self 
pollinated plants. These self pollinated plants will be genetically 
equivalent to the female inbred line used to produce the hybrid. 
Typically these self pollinated plants can be identified and selected due 
to their decreased vigor. Female selfs are identified by their less 
vigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductive characteristics, 
including shorter plant height, small ear size, ear and kernel shape, cob 
color, or other characteristics. 
Identification of these self pollinated lines can also be accomplished 
through molecular marker analyses. See, "The Identification of Female 
Selfs in Hybrid Maize: A Comparison Using Electrophoresis and Morphology", 
Smith, J. S. C. and Wych, R. D., Seed Science and Technology 14, pp. 1-8 
(1995), the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by 
reference. Through these technologies, the homozygosity of the self 
pollinated line can be verified by analyzing allelic composition at 
various loci along the genome. Those methods allow for rapid 
identification of the invention disclosed herein. See also, 
"Identification of Atypical Plants in Hybrid Maize Seed by Postcontrol and 
Electrophoresis" Sarca, V. et al., Probleme de Genetica Teoritica si 
Aplicata Vol. 20 (1) p. 29-42. 
As is readily apparent to one skilled in the art, the foregoing are only 
two of the various ways by which the inbred can be obtained by those 
looking to use the germplasm. Other means are available, and the above 
examples are illustrative only 
Maize is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of 
plant breeders is to develop high-yielding maize hybrids that are 
agronomically sound based on stable inbred lines. The reasons for this 
goal are obvious: to maximize the amount of grain produced with the inputs 
used and minimize susceptibility of the crop to pests and environmental 
stresses. To accomplish this goal, the maize breeder must select and 
develop superior inbred parental lines for producing hybrids. This 
requires identification and selection of genetically unique individuals 
that occur in a segregating population. The segregating population is the 
result of a combination of crossover events plus the independent 
assortment of specific combinations of alleles at many gene loci that 
results in specific genotypes. The probability of selecting any one 
individual with a specific genotype from a breeding cross is infinitesimal 
due to the large number of segregating genes and the unlimited 
recombinations of these genes, some of which may be closely linked. 
However, the genetic variation among individual progeny of a breeding 
cross allows for the identification of rare and valuable new genotypes. 
These new genotypes are neither predictable nor incremental in value, but 
rather the result of manifested genetic variation combined with selection 
methods, environments and the actions of the breeder. 
Thus, even if the entire genotypes of the parents of the breeding cross 
were characterized and a desired genotype known, only a few, if any, 
individuals having the desired genotype may be found in a large 
segregating F.sub.2 population. Typically, however, neither the genotypes 
of the breeding cross parents nor the desired genotype to be selected is 
known in any detail. In addition, it is not known how the desired genotype 
would react with the environment. This genotype by environment interaction 
is an important, yet unpredictable, factor in plant breeding. A breeder of 
ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the genotype, how that genotype 
will interact with various climatic conditions or the resulting phenotypes 
of the developing lines, except perhaps in a very broad and general 
fashion. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art would also be unable to 
recreate the same line twice from the very same original parents as the 
breeder is unable to direct how the genomes combine or how they will 
interact with the environmental conditions. This unpredictability results 
in the expenditure of large amounts of research resources in the 
development of a superior new maize inbred line. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred maize line, 
designated PH02T. This invention thus relates to the seeds of inbred maize 
line PH02T, to the plants of inbred maize line PH02T, and to methods for 
producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred line PH02T with 
itself or another maize line. This invention further relates to hybrid 
maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH02T with 
another maize line. 
Definitions 
In the description and examples that follow, a number of terms are used 
herein. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the 
specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the 
following definitions are provided. NOTE: ABS is in absolute terms and % 
MN is percent of the mean for the experiments in which the inbred or 
hybrid was grown. These designators will follow the descriptors to denote 
how the values are to be interpreted. Below are the descriptors used in 
the data tables included herein. 
ANT ROT=ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT (Colletotrichum graminicola). A 1 to 9 visual 
rating indicating the resistance to Anthracnose Stalk Rot. A higher score 
indicates a higher resistance. 
BAR PLT=BARREN PLANTS. The percent of plants per plot that were not barren 
(lack ears). 
BRT STK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakage near the 
time of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybrid or inbred 
would snap or break near the time of flowering under severe winds. Data 
are presented as percentage of plants that did not snap. 
BU ACR=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Yield of the grain at harvest in bushels per 
acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture. 
CLD TST=COLD TEST. The percent of plants that germinate under cold test 
conditions. 
CLN=CORN LETHAL NECROSIS. Synergistic interaction of maize chlorotic mottle 
virus (MCMV) in combination with either maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV-A 
or MDMV-B) or wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). A 1 to 9 visual rating 
indicating the resistance to Corn Lethal Necrosis. A higher score 
indicates a higher resistance. 
COM RST=COMMON RUST (Puccinia sorghi). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating 
the resistance to Common Rust. A higher score indicates a higher 
resistance. 
D/D=DRYDOWN. This represents the relative rate at which a hybrid will reach 
acceptable harvest moisture compared to other hybrids on a 1-9 rating 
scale. A high score indicates a hybrid that dries relatively fast while a 
low score indicates a hybrid that dries slowly. 
DIP ERS=DIPLODIA EAR MOLD SCORES (Diplodia maydis and Diplodia macrospora). 
A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Diplodia Ear Mold. A 
higher score indicates a higher resistance. 
DRP EAR=DROPPED EARS. A measure of the number of dropped ears per plot and 
represents the percentage of plants that did not drop ears prior to 
harvest. 
DIT=DROUGHT TOLERANCE. This represents a 1-9 rating for drought tolerance, 
and is based on data obtained under stress conditions. A high score 
indicates good drought tolerance and a low score indicates poor drought 
tolerance. 
EAR HT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground to the 
highest placed developed ear node attachment and is measured in inches. 
EAR MLD=General Ear Mold. Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is very 
susceptible and a "9" is very resistant. This is based on overall rating 
for ear mold of mature ears without determining the specific mold 
organism, and may not be predictive for a specific ear mold. 
EAR SZ=EAR SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating of ear size. The higher the rating 
the larger the ear size. 
ECB 1LF=EUROPEAN CORN BORER FIRST GENERATION LEAF FEEDING (Ostrinia 
nubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to 
preflowering leaf feeding by first generation European Corn Borer. A 
higher score indicates a higher resistance. 
ECB 2IT=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION INCHES OF TUNNELING (Ostinia 
nubilalis). Average inches of tunneling per plant in the stalk. 
ECB 2SC=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION (Ostrinia nubilalis). A 1 to 
9 visual rating indicating post flowering degree of stalk breakage and 
other evidence of feeding by European Corn Borer, Second Generation. A 
higher score indicates a higher resistance. 
ECB DPE=EUROPEAN CORN BORER DROPPED EARS (Ostrinia nubilalis). Dropped ears 
due to European Corn Borer. Percentage of plants that did not drop ears 
under second generation corn borer infestation. 
EST CNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the stand establishment in 
the spring and represents the number of plants that emerge on per plot 
basis for the inbred or hybrid. 
EYE SPT=Eye Spot (Kabatiella zeae or Aureobasidium zeae). A 1 to 9 visual 
rating indicating the resistance to Eye Spot. A higher score indicates a 
higher resistance. 
FUS ERS=FUSARIUM EAR ROT SCORE (Fusarium moniliforme or Fusarium 
subglutinans). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to 
Fusarium ear rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance. 
GDU=Growing Degree Units. Using the Barger Heat Unit Theory, which assumes 
that maize growth occurs in the temperature range 50.degree. F.-86.degree. 
F. and that temperatures outside this range slow down growth; the maximum 
daily heat unit accumulation is 36 and the minimum daily heat unit 
accumulation is 0. The seasonal accumulation of GDU is a major factor in 
determining maturity zones. 
GDU SHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) or heat 
units required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 
percent of the plants shedding pollen and is measured from the time of 
planting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method, where 
the heat units for a 24-hour period are: 
##EQU1## 
The highest maximum temperature used is 86.degree. F. and the lowest 
minimum temperature used is 50.degree. F. For each inbred or hybrid it 
takes a certain number of GDUs to reach various stages of plant 
development. 
GDU SLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units required for an 
inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants with 
silk emergence from time of planting. Growing degree units are calculated 
by the Barger Method as given in GDU SHD definition. 
GIB ERS=GIBBERELLA EAR ROT (PINK MOLD) (Gibberella zeae). A 1 to 9 visual 
rating indicating the resistance to Gibberella Ear Rot. A higher score 
indicates a higher resistance. 
GLF SPT=Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). A 1 to 9 visual rating 
indicating the resistance to Gray Leaf Spot. A higher score indicates a 
higher resistance. 
GOS WLT=Goss' Wilt (Corynebacterium nebraskense). A 1 to 9 visual rating 
indicating the resistance to Goss' Wilt. A higher score indicates a higher 
resistance. 
GRN APP=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the general 
appearance of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factors 
as the color of harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any cracked 
grain. High scores indicate good grain quality. 
H/POP=YIELD AT HIGH DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively high plant 
densities on 1-9 relative rating system with a higher number indicating 
the hybrid responds well to high plant densities for yield relative to 
other hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very 
good yield response, respectively, to increased plant density. 
HC BLT=HELMINTHOSPORIUM CARBONUM LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium carbonum). A 
1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Helminthosporium 
infection. A higher score indicates a higher resistance. 
HD SMT=HEAD SMUT (Sphacelotheca reiliana). This score indicates the 
percentage of plants not infected. 
INC D/A=GROSS INCOME (DOLLARS PER ACRE). Relative income per acre assuming 
drying costs of two cents per point above 15.5 percent harvest moisture 
and current market price per bushel. 
INCOME/ACRE. Income advantage of hybrid to be patented over other hybrid on 
per acre basis. 
INC ADV=GROSS INCOME ADVANTAGE. GROSS INCOME advantage of variety #1 over 
variety #2. 
KSZ DCD=KERNEL SIZE DISCARD. The percent of discard seed; calculated as the 
sum of discarded tip kernels and extra large kernels. 
UPOP=YIELD AT LOW DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively low plant densities 
on a 1-9 relative system with a higher number indicating the hybrid 
responds well to low plant densities for yield relative to other hybrids. 
A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very good yield 
response, respectively, to low plant density. 
MDM CPX=MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC COMPLEX (MDMV=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus and 
MCDV=Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the 
resistance to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Complex. A higher score indicates a 
higher resistance. 
MST=HARVEST MOISTURE. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture of the 
grain at harvest. 
MST ADV=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE. The moisture advantage of variety #1 over 
variety #2 as calculated by: MOISTURE of variety #2-MOISTURE of variety 
#1=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE of variety #1. 
NLF BLT=Northern Leaf Blight (Helminthosporium turcicum or Exserohilum 
turcicum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Northern 
Leaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance. 
PLT HT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plant from the 
ground to the tip of the tassel in inches. 
POL SC=POLLEN SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount of pollen 
shed. The higher the score the more pollen shed. 
POL WT=POLLEN WEIGHT. This is calculated by dry weight of tassels collected 
as shedding commences minus dry weight from similar tassels harvested 
after shedding is complete. 
It should be understood that the inbred can, through routine manipulation 
of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in a male-sterile form. Such 
embodiments are also contemplated within the scope of the present claims. 
POP K/A=PLANT POPULATIONS. Measured as 1000s per acre. 
POP ADV=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE. The plant population advantage of 
variety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by PLANT POPULATION of variety 
#2-PLANT POPULATION of variety #1=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE of variety 
#1. 
PRM=PREDICTED RELATIVE MATURITY. This trait, predicted relative maturity, 
is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relative maturity 
rating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes standard linear 
regression analyses and is also referred to as the Comparative Relative 
Maturity Rating System that is similar to the Minnesota Relative Maturity 
Rating System. 
PRM SHD=A relative measure of the growing degree units (GDU) required to 
reach 50% pollen shed. Relative values are predicted values from the 
linear regression of observed GDU's on relative maturity of commercial 
checks. 
RT LDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plants that do not 
root lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at an approximately 
30.degree. angle or greater would be counted as root lodged. 
RTL ADV=ROOT LODGING ADVANTAGE. The root lodging advantage of variety #1 
over variety #2. 
SCT GRN=SCATTER GRAIN. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount of 
scatter grain (lack of pollination or kernel abortion) on the ear. The 
higher the score the less scatter grain. 
SDG VGR=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of the amount of 
vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage (approximately 
five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor. 
SEL IND=SELECTION INDEX. The selection index gives a single measure of the 
hybrid's worth based on information for up to five traits. A maize breeder 
may utilize his or her own set of traits for the selection index. One of 
the traits that is almost always included is yield. The selection index 
data presented in the tables represent the mean value averaged across 
testing stations. 
SLF BLT=SOUTHERN LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium maydis or Bipolaris maydis). 
A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to Southern Leaf Blight. 
A higher score indicates a higher resistance. 
SOU RST=SOUTHERN RUST (Puccinia polysora). A 1 to 9 visual rating 
indicating the resistance to Southern Rust. A higher score indicates a 
higher resistance. 
STA GRN=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant health near the time 
of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A high score indicates 
better late-season plant health. 
STD ADV=STALK STANDING ADVANTAGE. The advantage of variety #1 over variety 
#2 for the trait STK CNT. 
STK CNT=NUMBER OF PLANTS. This is the final stand or number of plants per 
plot. 
STK LDG=STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that did not stalk 
lodge (stalk breakage) as measured by either natural lodging or pushing 
the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that break below the 
ear. 
STW WLT=Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii). A 1 to 9 visual rating 
indicating the resistance to Stewart's Wilt. A higher score indicates a 
higher resistance. 
TAS BLS=TASSEL BLAST. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to measure the degree 
of blasting (necrosis due to heat stress) of the tassel at the time of 
flowering. A 1 would indicate a very high level of blasting at time of 
flowering, while a 9 would have no tassel blasting. 
TAS SZ=TASSEL SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate the 
relative size of the tassel. The higher the rating the larger the tassel. 
TAS WT=TASSEL WEIGHT. This is the average weight of a tassel (grams) just 
prior to pollen shed. 
TEX EAR=EAR TEXTURE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate the 
relative hardness (smoothness of crown) of mature grain. A 1 would be very 
soft (extreme dent) while a 9 would be very hard (flinty or very smooth 
crown). 
TILLER=TILLERS. A count of the number of tillers per plot that could 
possibly shed pollen was taken. Data are given as a percentage of tillers: 
number of tillers per plot divided by number of plants per plot. 
TST WT=TEST WEIGHT (UNADJUSTED). The measure of the weight of the grain in 
pounds for a given volume (bushel). 
TST WTA=TEST WEIGHT ADJUSTED. The measure of the weight of the grain in 
pounds for a given volume (bushel) adjusted for 15.5 percent moisture. 
TSW ADV=TEST WEIGHT ADVANTAGE. The test weight advantage of variety #1 over 
variety #2. 
WIN M %=PERCENT MOISTURE WINS. 
WIN Y %=PERCENT YIELD WINS. 
YLD=YIELD. It is the same as BU ACR ABS. 
YLD ADV=YIELD ADVANTAGE. The yield advantage of variety #1 over variety #2 
as calculated by: YIELD of variety #1-YIELD variety #2=yield advantage of 
variety #1. 
YLD SC=YIELD SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to give a relative 
rating for yield based on plot ear piles. The higher the rating the 
greater visual yield appearance.