MUTATION OF A GENE FOR YELLOW PIGMENT LINKED TO Lr19 IN WHEAT

Abstract

In earlier work it had been found that Agatha, a wheat-Agropyron derivative carrying gene Lr19 for leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Rob. ex Desm.) resistance, also carried an undesirable gene for yellow flour pigment. Agatha was treated with ethyl methanesulphonate in an attempt to mutate the gene for yellow pigment. The M2 plants were tested for pigment levels, plants that appeared to be low were selected and the results confirmed on their M3 progeny. Two apparent mutants with low pigment levels were obtained.