Genetic control of albinism in pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata L.)

Abstract

Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata L.) is a diploid (2n = 2x = 16) perennial aquaphyte. Preliminary studies revealed that a group of nonalbino pickerelweed plants maintained for breeding and inheritance studies regularly produced albino seedlings. The objective of this experiment was to determine the number of loci, number of alleles, and gene action controlling albinism in pickerelweed. Five nonalbino parental lines were used in this experiment to create S 1 and F1 populations. F2 populations were produced through self-pollination of F1 plants. Evaluation of S 1, F1, and F2 generations allowed us to identify a single diallelic locus controlling albinism in these populations of pickerelweed, with albinism completely recessive to normal green leaf production. We propose that this locus be named albino with alleles A and a. © The American Genetic Association. 2007. All rights reserved.