Mutations in Rye (Secale cereale L.)

Abstract. Mutations found in cultivated rye were grouped as follows: self-fertility genes, meiotic mutants, embryo lethality and enzyme-specific deficiency genes, chlorophyll mutants, dwarf mutants, morphological mutations, anthocyaninless and seed color genes. The traits in the mutants were controlled by recessive genes excepted for the dominant dwarfs, self-fertile genes and some morphological mutations. All the meiotic mutations caused partial or complete spike sterility and were maintained in a heterozygous state. Chlorophyll mutants were divided into lethal and semi-lethal, with the difference that the latter usually reach maturity. Dwarf mutants formed one of the largest groups, in which the dwarfism character of 15 numbers was determined by a single recessive gene. The response to gibberellic acid was found in fourteen mutants, including the dominant dwarfs. Mutations in morphological traits were also governed by recessive genes excepted for the hairy leaf sheath, spring growth habit and waxy endosperm. The use of self-fertile mutants in rye allowed to study the genetics of inbred lines with different seed color (yellow, green, brown, and violet) depending mainly on the combination of the recessive alleles of Vi, C and Vs genes. The production of more inbred lines led to the identification of various mutations and their subsequent detailed research for enhancing germplasm diversity in cultivated rye.