Flax lines mutant for chlorophyll coloration in the genetic collection of VIR

Abstract

Photosynthesis is one of the main biological processes that ensure life on the planet. The use of knowledge about the genetic control of chlorophyll biosynthesis will help to increase the productivity of flax. The paper presents a study of hybrids from the crosses of five lines defective in chlorophyll coloration and five with green coloration of the plant, differing in other morphological characteristics.Inheritance of 4 nuclear genes controlling the chlorophyll coloration of the plant has been established. The independent genes ygp1 (in the gc-210 line) and ygp2 (in the gc-473 line) control the yellow-green coloration of a young plant (Xanthovirescens). The complementary interaction of these genes, which causes the yellow color of a young plant, has been demonstrated. The genes ygp2 (in gc-473) and ygp2-2 (in gc-570) were proved to be allelic but not identical, since mutations were obtained independently. The non-cumulative polymeric gene interaction which has been established in the case of zeb1 and zeb2 genes (both in the gc-281 line), cause an increase in photosensitivity and alternation of white and green stripes of leaves (Viridoalbostriata). These genes mask the action of the ygp1 and ygp2 genes. For the first time in the world, the maternal type of inheritance of the chlorophyll coloration of the plant, controlled by the chloroplast gene ygp3 of the gc-480 line, has been established in flax. It was found that the gc-570 line, in addition to the ygp2-2 gene, is homozygous for the genes CSB1 (ciliation of the false septa of the boll) and YSED1 (dominant yellow seeds), while the gc-480 line, in addition to the ygp3 gene, is homozygous for the CSB1 and dlb3 genes (light blue corolla). The allelism but not equality of the dlb3 genes in the gc-480 and gc-210 lines has been proven. The genes ygp1 and ygp2, which are responsible for chlorophyll coloration may be promising for labeling varieties. It is necessary to study them in more detail for the possible creation of plastic varieties capable to endure unfavorable environmental conditions at early stages of development.

Keywords

• fiber flax
• oilseed flax
• <i>linum usitatissimum</i> l.
• genetic collection
• chlorophyll coloration genes
• chloroplast genes