Genetical studies of embryo survival and embryo breakdown in Pelargonium × hortorum Bailey

Summary The 6×6×4 analysis of variance of the mean percentage embryo survival for six variegated cultivars of Pelargonium × hortorum Bailey, with mutant plastids in their germ layers, and for their isogenic green (G) clones, shows highly significant differences between females (81 to 91 per cent) and between plastid crosses (83 to 91 per cent). Between cultivar differences are attributed largely to additive effects corresponding to additive gene action, and between plastid differences to a lower survival after crosses with white (W) males than with green males. The relationship between overall fertility (% fertilization × survival) and plastid crosses is a stepwise decline in the order G×G>G×W>W×G>W×W (28 to 19 per cent) in which the white embryos growing in a white mother are approximately 30 per cent less fertile than the green embryos in a green mother. The non-surviving embryos are classified into empty, undeveloped and dwarf embryos and submitted to a 6×4 analysis of variance after summing through males. The significant heterogeneity between females is attributed largely to a difference between one cultivar-with a high frequency of dwarf and a low frequency of undeveloped embryos-and the other five cultivars. The absence of a significant plastid effect upon any stage of embryo breakdown indicates that the depressive effect of white plastids is spread evenly throughout development.