Abstract:
The inheritance of fruit colour in brinja! (Solarium metongena) was
studied by analysing the progeny belonging to the F, M2, FjM^ and F3M
generations resulting from a cross between varieties insanum and purple giant
followed by gamma irradiation. The F0 phenotypic frequencies fitted very well
with the dihybrid ratio indicating that the fruit colour is governed by two
independently inherited genes. Three colour mutants, namely, purple, mottled
green and white were induced in the F]MI generation by the irradiation. The
appearance of these mutants is explained as due to independent mutations at either
or both of the two genetic loci. The colour pattern in the F3M., progenies derived
from the F, Mj mutants substantiates the two gene mechanism for the inheritance of
fruit colour. The genotypes for the different colour types in the FL, F, and FlMl
mutants have been indicated and discussed.