BGN 1: Detection of chlorophyll-less xantha traits in barley BARLEY GENETICS NEWSLETTER, VOL. 1, II. RESEARCH NOTES
Bell, p. 17

II.4 Detection of chlorophyll-less xantha traits in barley.

W. D. Bell, Department of Botany, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32601, U.S.A.

A rapid test for the absence of chlorophyll in new xantha traits was established by exposing unsaponified extracts of xantha seedlings in petroleum ether to long or short wave ultraviolet light. The typical red fluorescence of porphyrins was used as a preliminary test for the absence of chlorophyll. Of 20 new traits in this category selected from over 200 new xantha segregations (from EMS-treated barley), all contained beta carotene, lutein and violoxanthin. Chromatographic profiles of the chlorophyll-less xanthas were virtually indistinguishable from those which contained chlorophyll following saponification of the latter to remove the chlorophyll.

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