Barley mutants with short roots

Nine mutants showing significant shortening of seminal roots have been identified in the collection of dwarf and semi-dwarf forms obtained after mutagenic treatments of spring barley varieties with N-nitroso-N-methylurea and sodium azide. Genetic analysis, performed at the seedling and the spike-emergence stage of plant development, indicated that a single recessive gene was responsible for root shortening in each of analyzed mutants. One shortroot mutant developed also very short root hairs. Short roots and short root hairs were controlled by separate genes. The reciprocal crosses of four mutants revealed that they were non allelic.