Sali ALIU, Shukri FETAHU, Imer RUSINOVCI, Kemajl BISLIMI, Dukagjin ZEKA 46 th Croatian and 6 th International Symposium on Agriculture 384 Tassel morphology and pollen productivity in some maize (Zea mays L.) local populations Sali ALIU 1 , Shukri FETAHU 1 , Imer RUSINOVCI 1 , Kemajl BISLIMI 2 , Dukagjin ZEKA 1 1 University of Prishtina, Faculty of Agriculture, Str. “Bill Clinton”, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo, (e-mail: salialiu02@gmail.com) 2 University of Prishtina, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Str. "Nëna Terezë", 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo Abstract Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important staple crop in Kosovo with the small holder farming systems accounting about 32% of the total production. A field experiment was conducted at the location in Prishtina (Kosovo) to test ten maize local populations for tassel morphology and pollen productivity. The experiment was set up in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Data about productive elements have been gathered from counting and measurements from ten plants, which were taken from each plot. Pollen was collected in pollen bags in each plot from plants were randomly selected from the two middle rows. The collection of pollen was started on the day when the first anthers appeared on the tassels main branches. Population analyses have revealed a large amount of variability for tassel morphology, pollen productivity (PP) and tassel area index (TAI). Pollen productivity (PP) was significantly affected by genotype, while the total genetic variation between maize local populations was higher (90%). TAI approach is well-suited for distinguishing genetic variation in pollen productivity and relative responses to treatments under field conditions. We supplement our results with data of those traits in maize local populations which were significantly higher at LSDp=0.01, except main stem diameter (MSD), that was non significant. Key words: maize local populations, pollen productivity, tassel area index (TAI) Introduction Maize (Zea mays L.) is a monoecius species, which has separate staminate and pistillate flowers on the same plant. The male inflorescence (tassel) arises from the shoot apical meristem, while the female inflorescences (ears) originate from the axillary bud apicies (Maiskomitee, 2003). During development, spikelets transition from bisexual due to the selective elimination of male or female developmental processes, resulting in two morphologically distinct inflorescences; the male tassel and female ear (Wei Li, 2009). Pollination in maize can occur only if pollen shed by the tassel is captured by the stigmas (silks) on the ear. Pollen is produced in the anthers of the tassel at the top of the plant. When mature, the anthers suspend on filaments that emerge from the tassel and pollen is released from an opening at the tip of the anther. Branches start to shed one or two days after the beginning of the pollen shed of central rachis and follow the same pattern. An individual tassel may shed pollen for 2 to 10 days, depending on genotype and environmental conditions (Fonesca and Westgate, 2003). Morphology of tassel components primarily influencing pollen amount can be a significant factor of successful seed production and selection. There are only few studies reporting tassel characteristics and pollen producing ability of maize. Inheritance of tassel features has not been fully clarified yet (Berke and Rocheford, 1999), cited by Bodi and Pepo (2007). The majority of maize varieties are able to produce adequate quantity of viable pollen under various ecological circumstance, and pollen production cannot be considered as a limiting factor as far as yield is concerned (Duvick, 1997). Managing pollen dispersion is an important consideration in seed production, too. The male tassel can produce considerably more pollen grains than required for pollination of a single plant (Schoper et al., 1987). A single tassel from a normal plant may produce up to 25 million pollen grains or an average of 25000 pollen grains for each female flower on an ear of 750 to 1000 kernels (Poehlman and Sleper, 1995), cited by Bannert (2006). Environmental conditions can affect pollen availability by modifying the synchrony between pollen shedding and silk Proceedings. 46 th Croatian and 6 th International Symposium on Agriculture. Opatija. Croatia (384-387) ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER