• DOI:10.1007/BF02983115
• Corpus ID: 6762283

Bud mutations in the potato and their chimerical nature

@article{Asseyeva1927BudMI,
  title={Bud mutations in the potato and their chimerical nature},
  author={T. O. Asseyeva},
  journal={Journal of Genetics},
  year={1927},
  volume={19},
  pages={1-26}
}

• T. Asseyeva
• Published 1 November 1927
• Biology
• Journal of Genetics

Tm~ present investigation was suggested to the author by the study of a remarkable form of potato plant (discovered in 1920 by P. S. Gussev on one of the plots of the Kostroma Experiment. Field), which had evidently arisen through bud mutation. The most characteristic [eature of tliis "Kostroma nltt[~ant" is the peculiar a.nd strongly marked dissection of the leaf blade (Fig. 1). The flowers under natural conditions are abortive and drop in the bud stage. ]3ut by awdling ore'selves of the method devised by E. Uspensky, research assistant at the Korenevo Experiment Station, we were able in 1926 to obtain two perfectly developed flowers. As distinct from the normal rotate corolla, these flowers had their corolla dissected up to the base of the stamens (Fig. 1 a). The tubers differed in no w~y from normal o n e s . The "Kostroma mutant" was propagated by means of tubers during six consecutive years and proved perfectly constant, all of its vegetative offspring being distinguished by the same characteristic peculiarities as the original plant. From time to time, ]mwever, on different individuals of the mutant, clone leaves were observed bearing one or two perfectly normal leaflets (Fig. 2). Sometimes one of the longitudinal halves of the leaf showed a normal division into major and minor leaflets, while the other half preserved its peculiar abnormal struetm'e. Leaves with normal leaflets may occur on separate plants in greater or smaller lmmber---usually not more than two to three per plant--but most frequently they are entirely absetfl;. Attempts to select; types within the mutant clone showing a greater tendency to form normal leaflets failed. The appearance el normal leaflets on the abnormal form suggested l~hat this form might be an instance of the natural formation of a chimaera.