Induced albina mutations as a tool for genetic analysis and cell biology in flax (Linum usitatissimum)

In order to obtain nuclear recessive albina mutants, seeds of Linum usitatissimum ‘Antares’ were treated with ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) for 4 h at a concentration of 0.5% (v/v). After the mutagenic treatment, the M1 seeds were sown in the greenhouse, selfed and the resulting M2 seeds of each M1 plant were harvested separately. Observation of albina mutants in the M2 generation facilitated the estimation of the genetically effective cell number (GECN). In flax, four cells contribute to the formation of the inflorescence. The transmission of the albinism trait was further analysed in the progeny derived from the albina mutants. In four of these mutants, the albinism character was found to be encoded by recessive nuclear genes. The utility of these mutants as a source of regenerating explants or of protoplasts was tested. These features are critical to the development of interspecific hybrids in flax by creating a universal hybridizer which carries a positive and dominant trait (e.g. resistance to an antibiotic) and a recessive trait (e.g. nuclear recessive albinism).