DNA Differences between Flax Genotrophs

CERTAIN environmental conditions can induce genetic changes in particular varieties of plants 1–5 ; these changes are stable and inherited over many generations. One of the best examples of this involves the flax variety Stormont Cirrus, which when supplied with certain fertilizers and grown for at least 5 weeks in a heated greenhouse can change from its original form (P1) into a large stable genotroph (L), or a small stable genotroph (S), depending on the fertilizers supplied 1,6 . L plants may be up to six times the weight of S plants, depending on the environment in which they are grown, with the P1 type having a weight in between those of L and S.