GENETICS OF PEA MUTANTS WITH NEUTRAL REAC TION TO PHOTOPERIOD

The genetics of two new pea mutations, induced in the Torsdag cultivar by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and characterized by neutral reaction to photoperiod, lower node of first flower, earlier flowering and rip ening, is studied. A hybrid analysis showed that the mutations in muta nts k218 and k219 were recessive and monogenic. Allelic testing demons trated that they were caused by mutations in two nonallelic genes desi gnated dne1 (k218) and dne2 (k219), which control neutral reaction to photoperiod. Isolated mutant lines can serve as donors for producing n ew early ripening pea cultivars.