On the nature of the difference in transmembrane electric potential (PD) between some maize hybrids and their parents.

The effect of (a) arsenate, (b) the uncoupler FCCP and (c) fusicoccin on the PD values of cortical cells of subapical maize root segments from maize cv. MO17 and B73 and their hybrid were measured in the presence and absence of 3 mM K+. The inhibition of the active PD component by (a) or (b) lowered the PD value more in the hybrid than in the cv. PD values were increased by (c), more so in the hybrid than in the cv.