Title: Eighty Years of Scandinavian Barley Mutation Genetics and Breeding
Abstract: In 1928, the Swedish geneticists Hermann Nilsson-Ehle and Ake Gustafsson started on their suggestion experiments with induced mutations using a diploid barley species. The experiments started with X-rays and UV-irradiations, soon the first chlorophyll mutations were obtained followed by the first ‘vital’ mutations ‘Erectoides.’ Several other valuable mutants were considered: high-yielding, early maturity, lodging resistance and with changed ecological adaption. Soon the X-ray experiments expanded with different pre- and after-treatments, also using other types of irradiation, such as neutrons, positrons etc., and finally with chemical mutagens, starting with mustard gas and concluding with the inorganic sodium azide. The research brought a wealth of observations of general biological importance, high increased mutation frequencies, differences in the mutation spectrum and to direct mutagenesis for specific genes. This Scandinavian mutation research was non-commercial even if some mutants have become of some agronomic value. The peak of its activities was during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Barley has been the main experimental material, but also other species were included in the program. Over the years a rather large collection of morphological and physiological mutations (10,000 different mutant genes) with a broad variation were collected and several characters have been analyzed in more detail genetically and with regard to mutagen specificity. Most effort has been made on the Early maturity mutants, the Six-row (hexastichon) and Intermedium mutant group, the Surface wax coating: Eceriferum (Waxless) mutants, Dense spike mutants and others.
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Date: 2009-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 19
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