A WHEAT MUTATION CONDITIONING AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF HOMOEOLOGOUS CHROMOSOME PAIRING

Abstract

An X-ray-induced mutation in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), designated ph2, conditions an intermediate level of homoeologous chromosome pairing in hybrids with Triticum kotschyi var. variabilis. The number of chromosomes paired averaged 9.2 per sporocyte, compared with 2.0 in the control and 27.9 in the same hybrid involving ph1b, an apparent deficiency for Ph1 obtained in the same mutation experiment. The ph2 mutation is located on chromosome 3D and is believed to be a deficiency for a terminal segment of the short arm that includes the locus of Ph2, a minor suppressor of homoeologous pairing. Although no pairing of the ph2-carrying chromosome with telosome 3DS was observed, the mutation is clearly not a deficiency for the entire arm. It has little effect on pairing in wheat itself. Male transmission of the mutation is approximately normal, and fertility, while reduced, is sufficient for easy maintenance of the homozygous line.