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Effects of Temperature and Photoperiod on a Virescent Mutant in Smooth Bromegrass 1
Author(s) -
Dunn G. M.,
Ketel E. J.,
Routley D. G.,
Couture R. M.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1973.0011183x001300010021x
Subject(s) - photoperiodism , greening , etiolation , biology , mutant , chlorophyll , botany , chlorophyll a , pigment , carotenoid , horticulture , biochemistry , ecology , enzyme , gene , chemistry , organic chemistry
Two growth chamber trials were conducted to determine effects of temperature and photoperiod on the phenotypic expression of a vireseent mutant of Bromus inermis . Maximum expression of the mutant occurred at low‐temperature short‐photoperiod, with a range in percent greening from about 17 for this treatment to 58 at high‐temperature long‐photoperiod. Significant differences were obtained for both temperature and photoperiod. At a constant 12‐hr photoperiod, temperature alone produced highly significant differences, with percent greening being approximately 83% at 27 C, 46% at 21 C, and 16% at 16 C. Four vireseent, one yellow, and one normal green clone were analyzed for chlorophyll at four dates in the spring. Considerable variation was found in total chlorophyll and in rate of greening of the mutant clones in the field, but all except the yellow mutant contained approximately normal amounts of chlorophyll by June 13. Mutant and normal plants were etiolated in the dark, then analyzed for protochlorohpyll and carotenoid pigments. The mutants synthesized approximately as much protochlorophyll as normal plants. Carotenoid pigments were quite low in etiolated mutant seedlings, suggesting a possible genetic block in their synthesis rather than in chlorophyll.