Tests for major genes affecting quantitative traits in wild radish,Raphanus raphanistrum

The number of gene loci coding for quantitative traits is an important issue in genetics. However, there are still very few empirical data on this point, especially in natural populations. I tested for major gene effects on ten quantitative traits in wild radish, using an indirect method based on the patterns of family means and within and between family variances for traits. This method should reveal whether a single locus is responsible for most of the variation in a trait. Eight of the traits measured were morphological dimensions of leaves and flowers; no strong evidence for major gene effects on these traits was found. In contrast, evidence for major gene effects was found in the other two traits, emergence time and flowering time.