In 1921 PARNELLsh owed that waxy and non-waxy pollen grains
stained differently in iodine solution, the former ones being reddish
brown whereas the latter ones stained blue. Shortly afterwards, this
detection was followed by the observation of WEATHERWA(1X92 2) that
waxy and non-waxy maize kernels could be distinguished by iodine
staining. The exact chemical difference between waxy and non-waxy
was not understood by WEATHERWAwXh,o erroneously suggested that
erythrodextrine was the carbohydrate reserve in waxy endosperm.
Later on BRINK and MACGILLIVRAY (1924) as well as DEMEREC
(1924 a) and LONGLEY(1 924) also showed that the iodine staining technique
could advantageously be used to distinguish waxy and non-waxy
maize pollen grains from each other. However, this last possibility was
denied by KIESSELBACH and PETERSEN(1 925) who could not find any
difference between the two types of pollen grains by staining them in
iodine solution. This caused BRINKM, ACGILLIVRAYan d DEMERE(C19 26)
to report more accurately on their staining and screening techniques.
They indicated furthermore that the non-waxy granules mostly were
rod-shaped and ovate whereas the waxy granules were somewhat
irregular although of the same size as in the non-waxy pollen grains.
In a later paper KIESSELBACHa nd PETERSEN(1 926) admitted that the
cause for their failure to distinguish between waxy and non-waxy
pollen was due to a faulty technique.
The study of WEATHERWA(1X9 22) of the carbohydrate component