Anatomical Studies in Sub-Species and Induced Mutants of Triticum Aestivum in Relation to Pleiotropic Gene Action

Sub-species vulgare, spelta and compactum of T. aestivum and induced compactoid and speltoid mutants of vulgare differed in the anatomy of the coleoptile and mature stem. The number and arrangement of the xylem elements in coleoptile, length of long cells and stomata in the epidermis, presence or absence of chlorencbyma in the hypodermis and vascular bundle measurements can be used as diagnostic features in the identification of the different species, thus indicating that the loci controlling sub-specific differentiation in the group have distinctive effects on anatomical development. The compactoid mutant showed similarity towards compactum with regard to anatomical characters. It seems possible that the pleiotropic effects of the compactum and compactoid loci may arise from a single primary effect. The over-dose of Q, and the presence of C appear to have similar anatomical consequences.