Genetic Analysis of Lutein Content in Petal of Tagetes erecta Cultivar W217

Lutein content is a useful indicator in Tagetes erecta L.It was used in correlative selection and purity test and was also used as a genetic trait marker.In the present study the color was quantified by lutein content in order to investigate the genetic-model of flower color.Six generations(P1,P2,F1,F2,B1and B2) from W217×W203 were analyzed with a mixed genetic-model for major genes and polygenes.Results showed that lutein content in marigold was a quantitative trait and its inheritance fitted to a mixed genetic-model of two major genes with additive-dominant-epistatic effects plus polygenes with additive-dominant-epistatic effects(E-0 model).Among them,the additive,dominant and epistatic effects of the two major genes were equally important.The estimated heritability rates of the two major genes were 60.82% in F2,78.47% in B1,86.86% in B2.The effects and heritability of major genes were high with low environmental influence,and that of the polygenes were also relatively low.The estimated inheritability rates of the polygenes were 38.42% in F2,11.77% in B2.