Zinc tolerance and hyperaccumulation are genetically independent characters.
The hyperaccumulation of metals by a rare class of plants is a fascinating and little understood phenomenon. No genetic analysis has been possible since no intraspecific variation is known for this character. Here, we report on crosses between the zinc-hyperaccumulating and -tolerant species Arabidopsis halleri and the non-hyperaccumulating, non-tolerant species Arabidopsis petraea. The F2 segregates for both characters and it appears that the two characters are genetically independent. The data for tolerance are consistent with a single major gene for this character (although the number of genes for hyperaccumulation cannot be determined), and is probably not very large.
Macnair
M R
MR
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, UK. m.r.macnair@ex.ac.uk
Bert
V
V
Huitson
S B
SB
Saumitou-Laprade
P
P
Petit
D
D
D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015032:Zinc