PHYSICALLY INDUCED NEW VARIEGATED LEAF MUTANTS IN PEA (PISUM SATIVUM L.)

Six pea mutants, displaying a green-yellow variegation on the leaves, were obtained by screening the M(2) generation of mutagenized Pisum sativum cvs Auralia, Borek and 9-76. The investigated phenotype seemed to be environmentally dependent, especially on light intensity and temperature during the growing period. All lines had reduced plant height and seed production. The mutation conditioning of the variegated phenotype was recessive to the wildtype. Reciprocal crosses showed that the variegation was not maternally inherited. Allelic crosses among the mutants indicate that.:hey are allelic with each other. The overall characteristics of plants make them useful tool for studying the expression and regulation of genes related to photosynthesis and complexity of the photosynthetic system.