Inheritance of albinism in chickpea

Albinism in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) was detected in an M4,6 population after seed of the M0 generation had been subjected to a 30 kR gamma ray treatment. Observations in succeeding generations showed that it was controlled by one recessive gene. The gene was designated the symbol al-l. The albino plants died before seed set could take place and the allele is therefore to be maintained in the heterozygous combination of al-l AI-l. The phenomenon of albinism was studied at the cellular level and several possible uses of the albino trait are discussed.