Inheritance and chromosomal location of flecking in a mutant C591(M8) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Genetic analysis of data in F₂ generation derived from the cross NP852/C591(M8) and NP846/C591(M8) revealed that flecking in mutant C591(M8) of Triticum aestivum L. is controlled by a single dominant gene. The mutant C591(M8) was also crossed with individual monosomic lines of Chinese Spring and monosomic F₁ plants were cytologically identified. The F₂ plants derived from individual monosomic F₁s were scored for the presence of flecking. No critical line could be identified as several lines deviated from expected Mendelian ratio. Considering the peculiar characteristics of the mutation, which resembled the disease lesion mimic mutations reported in other crops such as maize, this indeed is a mutation in hexaploid wheat. The gene symbol Flk is proposed for flecking (= lesion mimic) in the mutant line C591(M8). The flecking mutant will serve as a useful genetic marker.