Virus as a Mutagenic Agent in Maize

Abstract

Evidence indicating that barley-stripe-mosaic virus has a mutagenic effect on maize is presented. The frequency of deficiencies of marker genes in F₁ seeds was significantly greater from pollinations involving viruis-infected males than from healthy controls. A small percentage of F₂ ears, involving virus-infected P₁ males, exhibited marked ratio distortions for marker genes. Such distortions persisted in subsequent back-cross generations.