(no subject)
Jan Schlauer (zxmsl01@studserv.zdv.uni-tuebingen.de)
Wed, 27 Oct 93 20:11:12 +0100
Barry,
I do not want to destroy any of your splendid theories. Let me just
remark that mostly, white flower colour is not determined by a gene but
rather by mutations in the genes coding for proteins involved in the
biogenesis of the pigment(s) causing flower colouration. So I'd assume
it would be better to call your recessive "white" gene a mutated
"yellow" gene, Y-. Then, _P.p.b._ would be YY, _P.p._ "yellow but not
_buswelii_" either YY- or Y-Y, and the white form Y-Y- (this white form
was called _P.pumila_ f.alba_ MOLDENKE, PHYTOLOGIA 26:225 (1973)). Let
me add, that Y might only represent types with P- (without purple so you
can see the yellow beneath it). For these and other reasons I have
decided not to assign these colour forms any taxonomic rank (see my
list). But I must hasten to point out that this is only my own private
view and by no means the last word. It has to be considered, also that
many genes may code (and probably it actually will be this way) for
flower colours, and the genetics will be more comlex than in this little
example. Nevertheless, these are nice plants with nice little flowers,
and your experiments may reveal some interesting patterns of _Pinguicu-
la_ genetics. Lucky you (I don't have _P.pumila_, but you say it's
annual, anyway)! On the other hand, I do have some "annuals"
(_U.caerulea_, _U.bifida_) for some two years now, but they may change
their habits in vitro... Kind regards and keep Mendeling! Jan