Inheritance of flowering time in six pea cultivars (Pisum sativum L.)

Summary

The dates of flowering of six pea cultivars and their F₁ and F₂ generations grown under a moderate level of top-yellows virus infection were analysed by both Griffing's and Jinks' methods to assess the stability of the polygenic control of flowering period. Flowering period was shown to be under the control of an additive system with dominance for the late flowering characteristic. Some gene interaction was indicated in both analyses, mainly between the later-flowering cultivars, although tests for apparent over-dominance were insignificant. It was considered that the degree of virus infection within the experiment had little, if any, effect upon flowering times and that selections for flowering date in these circumstances should be almost as reliable as those made in a disease-free environment.

Slightly increased earliness over the early parent was evident in five F₂ progenies and it appears possible to make further slight gains in earliness by selection in the present material.