GENETIC CONTROL OF MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF SEEDLINGS, BOLLS, AND SEEDS IN FLAX (LINUM USITATISSIMUM L.)

The inheritance of 14 genes has been studied by Mendelian genetic analysis. Five genes of six influencing hypocotyl color exert pleiotropic effects on other morphological characters: s1, yellow or green (s1-2) seeds, star-shaped white flower, and yellow anthers; sfbs1, white corolla of poorly pronounced star shape and yellow anthers; pbc3, star-shaped blue-tinged white flower and orange anthers; pbc1, blue-tinged white corrugated corolla and yellow anthers; f e, spotted seeds, pale blue corolla, and gray anthers. The sgh1 gene acts only in the hypocotyl. The pf1 gene (alleles pf1 and pf1-ad) changes seed color from red-brown to various shades of yellow brown, also determining pink petals and orange anthers; yspf1 acts only in the homozygote for allele pf1-ad, changing seed color to yellow; ora1 determines speckled seeds and has a pleiotropic effect on the orange color of anthers; SPS1 inhibits seed speckles in the ora1/ora1 genotype. Nonallelic genes YSED1 and ysed2 determine yellow seeds, and rs1, light yellow-brown. CSB1 controls the formation of cilia on boll septa. The interaction between most of these genes has been investigated. The pf1 and CSB1 genes demonstrate a 35-cM linkage.