On a mutable strain of Celosia cristata. L.

Abstract

A striped strain of Celosia cristata L., with which the present study is concerned, gives habitually some 5% self-colored, magenta mutants. The dominant gene which has been caused by this mutation is very constant, being markedly different from Mr. TERASAWA′S case. The striped strain frequently bears two kinds of bud-variations; one is pure magenta and the other is somewhat“intermediate”in coloration, in the latter each petal being mosaic of yellow and magenta. The flower usually dose not accompany a differentiated genotype, while the latter is due to a gene mutation in the somatic tissue. The non-heritable magenta ears usually attach to green stems, whereas the heritable“intermediate” ones always to colored stems; and so the stem-color of the striped strain is more reliable to ascertain the genetic nature of the somatic differentiation than the ear color.