A MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE X-RAY INDUCED CAULIFLOWER-HEAD AND SINGLE-LEAF MUTATION IN MEDICAGO SATIVA L
A comparison was made of the morphology of a spontaneous and an x-ray induced cauliflower-head and singleleaf mutation with that of normal alfalfa. Chromosome numbers were 32 in the normal and the spontaneous mutation, 31 in some, but not all, of the x-ray induced lines. The cauliflower mutant is unrelated to the trisomic tetraploid condition of the B45 line. Flower development in x-ray induced cauliflower-head is restricted to profusely branched floral axes, which produce only meristem primordia, and under treatment wlth gibberellic acid, rudimentary pistils, but still no stamens, petals, or sepals. Flower development in the spontaneous mutation shows sparingly branched floral axes, which produce rudimentary pistils and linear bracts homologous with sepal- petal primordia. With gibberellic acid treatment, pistil development approaches normal. Leaf development, which is trifoliate in normal alfalfa, is unifoliate in both mutants. The unifoliate leaf appears to result from suppression of lateral leaflet primordia. It is suggested that the x-ray induced mutation, although similar, is more extreme and rudimentary in tissue differentiation than the spontaneous mutation. (TCO)
- Research Organization:
- Carleton Univ., Ottawa
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-021499
- OSTI ID:
- 4728029
- Journal Information:
- Canadian Journal of Genetics and Cytology (Canada), Vol. Vol: 4; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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