A RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L) MUTANT HAVING A LOW CONTENT OF GLUTELIN AND AHIGH CONTENT OF PROLAMINE

Among the mutant lines of rice that have been selected for morphologic al characters, one line, NM67, was found to have a low content of glut elin and a higher content of prolamine in its seed protein than other Japanese cultivars. This mutant is a semi-dwarf and partially sterile line, and its leaves turn yellow before heading. Genetic analysis afte r backcross to the original cultivar, 'Nihonmasari', revealed the foll owing: (1) the character of low glutelin content was always accompanie d by the character of high prolamine content; (2) the low glutelin (an d high prolamine) character seemed to be manifested by a single domina nt gene; and (3) semi-dwarfness, low fertility and early yellowing lea f of the mutant, which might also be pleiotropy, were controlled by a single recessive gene independent of the gene for protein content. The protein character of NM67 was genetically separated from semi-dwarfne ss and low fertility, and a new line having low glutelin content and h igh prolamine content with normal morphological characters comparable to those of the original cultivar was obtained from the progenies of t he cross. The possible use of this line as a low protein rice cultivar is discussed.