Effects of the Pallas gene in barley: phene analysis, overdominance, variability

Abstract

Pallas barley is a high‐yielding mutant induced by X‐rays in Bonus barley and was among the first cereal mutants released into practice. It is characterized by a high lodging resistance and surpassed its parent variety Bonus, under good soil conditions, in yielding capacity. It has been widely cultivated in several European countries. It was considered worth while to analyse the phene reactions of the mutant, its parent strain Bonus and their F1‐hybrid (Pallas x Bonus) in the Stockholm phytotron under varied climatic conditions. Three photoperiods and two thermoperiods were chosen for study. Fifteen phenotypic traits (phenes) were analysed concerning generative and vegetative production, occurrence and expression of dominance and overdominance, as well as phene variability (flexibility). Overdominance was common and often highly significant. Variability of individual phenes changed widely. In generative traits Pallas was more variable than Bonus and the F1‐hybrid. Under certain climatic conditions, the hybrid, in its turn, was definitely less variable than the parents. An evident interaction of genotype and climatic condition on productivity and variability was found. © 1977 Mendelian Society of Lund