Although the stalk of maize (Zea maysL.) functions as a reservoir for N, little is known of qualitative changes which accompany the remobilization of N to the developing ear. SDS‐PAGE analysis revealed that certain stalk proteins were lost, whereas others were not. The removal of ears and the prevention of pollination eliminated the selective protein loss. The use of15N labelling showed that some stalk‐protein fractions turned over faster with ear development, whereas the turnover of others was unchanged or slowed. The data indicate that at least 7 proteins function as temporary storage forms of N in the stalk, and that they are degraded during the first 3 weeks after silking to provide organic N for ear developm