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Chlorophyll Mutation From Recurrent X-Irradiation of Flax Seed¹

A 1,000-seed lot from each of seven flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) varieties were allowed to reach moisture equilibrium over NaC1O₃ before treatment with 30 kR of high energy x-rays. Controls were 500 non-irradlated seeds of each variety. Seeds for subsequent cycles were obtained from random bolls, each taken from a different basal branch of the surviving M1 or control plants. One seed from each selected boll was used to maintain the 1,000- or 500-seed lots for varietal irradiated and control populations, respectively. Seeds were irradiated each generation for four cycles.

The chlorophyll mutation frequencies, based on basal branch progenies (primary or secondary stems) were 0.32 x 10^-2, and 0.02 x 10^-2 for irradiated and control populations, respectively. The chlorophyll mutation frequencies, using Frydenberg's seedling method were 4.8 ± 0.5 x 10^-4, and 0.1 ± 0.06 x 10^-4 for irradiated and control populations, respectively.

The chlorophyll mutation spectrum consisted of six classes: light-green 29%, yellow-green 35%, yellow virescent 12%, yellow 14%, albino virescent 7% and albino 3%. The yellow and albino mutants usually died in the seedling stage.

Key Words: Linum usitatissimum L.

² Research Agronomist, Plant Science Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Brawley, California 92227.

Received for publication June 29, 1970.