K-Plus: A gene controlling potassium content in a light-green wheat mutant

Rascio, A. and Carlino, E. and Nicastro, G. and Platani, C. and Russo, M. and Fonzo, N. (2011) K-Plus: A gene controlling potassium content in a light-green wheat mutant. Cereal Research Communications, 39 (2). pp. 179-188. ISSN 0133-3720

Text crc.39.2011.2.2.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only until 30 June 2031. Download (341kB)

Abstract

A wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) mutant, designated k-plus, constitutively possesses high leaf potassium content and light-green leaves. To study the genetic basis of these traits and to find out their association, k-plus mutant was crossed to the wild type (WT) Trinakria, F1 and F2 populations were developed. The flag leaves of parental lines, F1 and F2 progeny were assayed for ion content, at the heading stage. Potassium content was greater in k-plus than in WT; the F1 hybrids behaved like to the WT, in both potassium and leaf colour. The number of genes conditioning leaf potassium content, was not more than one, as estimated by Castle-Wright method. A single recessive locus controls potassium content of k-plus mutant, with the wild type allele completely dominant over the new mutant. Broad sense heritability can be considered sufficient to obtain progress from selection, of k-plus phenotype. Light-green leaf colour was inherited as monogenic recessive allele, which co-segregate with the locus controlling potassium accumulation. Light-green F2 sub-population had, on the average, significantly more potassium content than green F2 sub-population. These preliminary results encourage further physiologic and genetic analysis of k-plus mutant.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item