Quantitative variation of ribosomal RNA genes in flax genotrophs

Abstract

The variation in the proportion of the DNA coding for ribosomal RNA in three flax genotrophs, and the inheritance of this proportion in crosses between them were determined. DNA variation was observed and lines could be selected from within a genotroph with differing proportions of rDNA. The degree of variation increased when the genotrophs were crossed, the extent of the increase being dependent on the particular genotrophs involved in the cross. The variation extended into the F2 and F3 generations. The mean values of F2 and F3 families were not highly correlated with the value of the parental plant from which they were derived. In one cross the F2 and F3 means were close to the average value of the two parents involved in the original cross. In the other cross, the FI, F2 and F3 means were all less than the average value of the two original parents. © 1979 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.