Summary
The fecundity heterosis of the gig/+oats (Avena sativa) was examined in a population showing segregation of the gene under the long photoperiods in S Finland. Segregating isolines of cv Hannes and of cv Kyrö were raised at two plant densities and the grain yield of heterozygotes and nonmutant homozygotes were evaluated. The heterozygotes in mean outyielded the homozygotes. The overdominance of grain number explains the persistance of this mutant at a relatively high frequency in oats in Finland, though the fecundity of the extremely late homozygous mutant is zero. Previous and current data indicate that the heterozygotes show heterosis of fecundity depending on genetic background, season or other environmental conditions. Grafting of cut stems of nonmutants onto wounded nodes of mutants did not transfer any observable florescence inductor. Hypomethylation of DNA, as revealed with HpaII digestion, occurred in topmost leaves of non-mutants, being absent or occurring to a lesser extent in the comparative leaves of mutants.
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Ahokas, H. Unfecund, gigantic mutant of oats (Avena sativa) shows fecundity overdominance and difference in DNA methylation properties. Euphytica 92, 21–26 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00022824
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00022824