Genetic Studies on the Leaf Variegation of Allium fistulosum Linnaeus

Abstract

1) The variegated plants when self-pollinated produced albino, variegated and green plants in the S1 generation. The variegated S1 plants segregated albino, variegated and green plants in the S2 and S3. The green S1 plants produced albino and green plants in the S2 and the latter bred true for the green in the S3.2) The F1s of the cross, variegated _??_×normal green _??_ consisted of albino, variegated and green plants. The variegated F1 plants segregated albino, variegated, and green plants in the later generations. The green F1 plants produced albino and green plants in the offspring.3) The F1s of the cross, normal green _??_×variegated _??_ were green, which produced only green plants with a few exceptional variegated plants.4) These results led to the conclusions that the leaf variegation found in Welsh onion is maternally inherited and that mutability of plastids is responsible for the variegation.