Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant Drosophila.
Arabidopsis thaliana is a small cruciferous weed which grows naturally, mainly in Europe. Because of its qualities of small size, rapid growth, low chromosome number and self-fertilisation, I adapted it to aseptic growth in purified agar in sterile test-tubes. I found that it secreted various substances into the medium, but not in type or amount likely to interfere with the expression of biosynthetic mutants. Following X-irradiation of seed, I obtained a number of mutants, including several lethals. One lethal mutant I discovered to be deficient in thiamine synthesis. It was the first biosynthetic mutant to be found in flowering plants.
Langridge
J
J
D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D008957:Models, Genetic; D016296:Mutagenesis; D012639:Seeds / Q000528:radiation effects; D014965:X-Rays