| II. Genetic Stocks Mutants of Triticum monococcum Patricia SARVELLA* and C.F. KONZAK Cell Culture and Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, and Department of Agronomy and Soils, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99163, U.S.A. Mutagens have been used to obtain genetic variants in wheat (KONZAK 1973). In the present study eleven lines from mutagen-treated Triticum monococcum L. which had different heights but all shorter than normal were selected. Normal T. monococcum was described by PERCIVAL, 1921; BOWDEN, 1959, and Box and GUEST, 1968. Plants were grown in the field at Pullman. Washington in 1973. Eleven lines were selected on the basis of plant height and harvested. These eleven lines were numbered 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 17, 20, 25, 26, and 29. Line 14 is representative of normal T. monococcum. Mature plants and seeds were shipped to Beltsville, Maryland. They were grown in the winter greenhouse in 1974. Photographs were made of the whole plant at maturity; flower at anthesis; mature spikelet; mature grain; glumes, palea, lemma, and remaining florets; and the mature spike. Whole plant at maturity. There was considerable difference in plant height. Four of the selected lines at Pullman were classed as short, four intermediate, and three tall (Table 1, Plates 1-11A). Two of the four short lines remained short at Beltsville; however, two were classed as intermediate. Two of the four intermediates at Pullman were again classed as intermediate and two as short. Of the three tall lines, two were tall and one intermediate at Beltsville. Lines 17 and 26 tillered profusely while lines 3, 10, 25, and 29 had fewer tillers. Line 3 had a chlorina coloration. Lines 10, 11, 17, 20, 25, 26, and 29 had later maturities at Washington. Flowers at anthesis (Plates 1-11B). Four lines have shortened filaments. Stigmas in these lines appeared normal. Spike (Plates 1-11F) Three lines (4, 10, and 11) had shorter awns and four lines (4, 20, and 25) shorter spikes. Line 25 also had nodding heads. Spikes in line 29 shattered easily. Spikelets, glumes, lemmas, and paleas. (Plates 1-11, C and E). Glumes were generally shorter than the lemmas. Lines 2, 10, and 29 have broader glumes. Beaks on the glumes were more prominent in line 25. Some of the lemmas contained grain (3, 4, 17, 20, 25, 26, 29). The paleas of lines 4, and 20 were shorter than the lemmas and were shorter than the paleas of the other lines. Grain (Plates 1-11, D). The grains in the various lines appeared to have the same length. Four lines (3, 6, 20, 26) had narrow grain. Conclusion. Thus, the eleven different lines varied not only in plant height but also in several other morphological characters. Literature Cited KONZAK, C.F. 1973. Using mutagens and mutations in wheat breeding and genetics research. Proceedings of the IV International Wheat Genetics Symposium, Columbia, Missouri. 1973. pp 275-281. PERCIVAL, J. 1921. The Wheat Plant. E.P. Dutton and Co. New York. 463 pp. BOK, N.L. and E. GUEST 1968. Flora of Iraq. Vol. 9. Gramineae. Baghdad. Ministry of Agric. Repl. of Iraq. 588pp. BOWDEN, W.M. 1959. The taxonomy and nomenclature of the wheats, barleys, and ryes, and their wild relatives. Can. J. Bot. 37: 657-684. (Received Nov. 30. 1977) Explanatian of PlatesPlates 1-11. Triticum monococcum mutant lines. A-whole plant at maturity 0.13 X; B-Flower at anthesis 4.1 X; C-Mature spikelet 1.9 X; D-Mature grain front, side, and back 3.4 x; E- Glumes, palea, Iemma, remaining florets, R. to L. 1.9 X; F- Mature spike 0.9X. Pl. 1-Line 2; P1. 2-Line 3; Pl. 3-Line 4; Pl. 4-Line 6; Pl. 5-Line 10; Pl. 6-Line 11; Pl. 7-Line 17; Pl. 8-Line 20; PL 9-Line 25; Pl. 10-Line 26; Pl. 11-Line 29. |
| * It is regretable to note here that our beloved Dr.Patricia Sarvella passed away last year (K. Yamashita, the Managing Editor) |
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