Acid phosphatase changes associated with development of male sterile and fertile maize (Zea mays L.)

Free and bound acid phosphatase were investigated biochemically and electrophoretically in male sterile and fertile plants. Scutella at the 72-hr seedling stage and anthers with enclosed reproductive tissue at the premeiosis, meiosis, and mature developmental stages were tested. Biochemical data show that while the total amount of free acid phosphatase behaved similarly in fertile and sterile plants, specific activities decreased in fertile plants and remained unchanged or increased in sterile plants. Total amounts of bound acid phosphatase increased significantly in fertile plants while specific activities decreased. In sterile anthers both specific activity and amount of bound acid phosphatase decreased significantly (except cms-S). Electrophoretic results indicated that the basic form of the enzyme was very similar in each location.