Inheritance of color in the pericarp and corolla of the disc florets in sunflower [Helianthus annuus]

The Inheritance of color in the three layers of the fruit wall and in the corolla of the ligulated disc florets of sunflower was studied. The stripe-like pigmentation of the first layer of the perlcarp is controlled by a series of three genes with cumulative effects; a fourth gene / inhibits the presence of pigment in the entire layer. Anthocyanin pigmentation In the second layer of the pericarp and in the corolla of the disc florets was found to be associated. A dominant gene C must be present for the production of the purple color in the second layer of the pericarp. A dominant gene Y produces a “diluted” purple color in this layer of the pericarp. A dominant gene P produces the purple color in the pericarp and corolla. There were indications of the presence of genes that modify the expression of the anthocyanin pigmentation in sunflowers. The layer of phytomelanin in the third layer of the pericarp is controlled by a dominant gene G. The inheritance of color in each of the three layers of the pericarp is independent of each other.