Genetics at the John Innes Horticultural Institution Dr. D. Lewis

Abstract

DR. D. LEWIS is succeeding Dr. Mather, recently appointed to the chair of genetics at Birmingham, as head of the Genetics Department at the John Innes Horticultural Institution. Dr. Lewis was appointed from Reading in 1935 to work in the Pomology Department at the Institution. He has collaborated with Mr. M. B. Crane in the breeding of pears, raspberries and other fruits. For the last ten years, however, he has concentrated on the study of the incompatibility reaction in plants, using especially the Californian Oenothera organensis. He began with simple tests on the temperature relations. Later he introduced polyploidy and mutations, both spontaneous and induced, into his experiments. He has been able to split the incompatibility gene in Oenothera, with results of great physiological interest. He has also been able to calculate its natural mutation-rate in the sweet cherry, and at the same time use the mutations in producing self-fertile types in a hitherto self-incompatible species— a breeding device of great practical interest. Dr. Lewis' versatile experimental gifts should find suitable scope in his new post.