Genetical and anatomical analyses of a leaf flecking mutant in Triticum aestivum L.

Abstract

Flecking trait in the mutant C591 (M8) Triticum aestivum L. is a stable,developmentally programmed, dominant mutation under monogenic control resembling pathogenic attack and starts appearing only from boot leaf stage of the plant. Mutant plants differ significantly from normal plants in terms of total chlorphyll contents only at later stages of symptom spread when the flecks fully cover the leaf sheath and leaves. However, total grain weight per main spike of mutant did not differ significantly from the normal plants. Microscopic studies of the mutant leaves did not reveal any damaging effect of the mutation on leaf anatomy per se, even though differences were observed in chlorophyll filling in mesophyll cells. Considering the peculiar characteristics of the mutation, many of which resembling the disease lesion mimic mutations in other crops, this is suspected to be such a mutation in wheat.