Developmental genetics and crop yield
Abstract
On the basis of consideration of the patterns of seed differentiation in plants and recent results of developmental genetics in Drosophila, a program is outlined for the production of crops with improved seed characteristics. Tissue specific mutations, modifying the size or quantity of seed components (embryo, aleurone, seed coat etc.), are expected to increase yield or render better quality by altering embryo-endosperm or endosperm-aleurone etc. ratios. The induction, isolation and utilization of tissue-specific mutations for plant breeding do not require techniques not already familiar to the breeder.