Observations on the Effect and Time of the Lethal Action of the Woolly Locus in the Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Abstract

The lethal effect of the woolly allele when homozygous is described and illustrated and is shown to interfere with normal differentiation of the embryo. The number of seeds in fruits of woolly plants is nearly the same as that in fruits of nonwoolly plants. The proportion of embryos failing to differentiate normally in self-pollinated woolly fruits is about 25%, and these are presumed to be those embryos which are-homozygously woolly. This effect is evident as early as 14 days after anthesis.