Elements of theS-gene complex VI. Mutations of the self-incompatibility gene,pseudo-compatibility and origin of new self-incompatibility alleles

Spontaneously occurring mutations of theS gene, involving both theS_I and theS_FI classes of alleles, were studied inNicotiana alata. The results showed that while almost all of the irradiation-induced mutants of theS gene requiredS-bearing duplication for their survival, usually in the form of a free fragment, most of the spontaneous mutants in the same species, surprisingly, did not have such a requirement. This difference has been attributed to the greater depth of mutations produced in response to the ionizing radiations, which necessitated complementation for the survival of the mutants. There is a possibility from the data that theS_FI class of alleles may have even less need for the duplication than the S_I class of alleles. Both pollen- and stylar-part mutations of theS gene were obtained, but the majority of the mutations were partial, producing less than half the normal complement of seeds per pod in the mutants. Complementation was observed in the style between a -part mutant alleleS_infF11^supand a normal alleleS_F10, which was the other allele in the parental plant that produced the mutant. No complementation occurred with another normal unrelated alleleS₂. This observation was similar to that previously recorded in the study of induced mutants inN. alata.In a cross where the two alleles of the pollen parent were both compatible the allele which was also a mutant had an advantage over the other, normal, allele. This suggests that in maize, where the occurrence of mutant forms of theS gene has been demonstrated, the preferential fertilization of ovules by pollen containing the B-chromosomes may be due to the presence of a mutant form of theS gene on the B-chromosome.Besides clear-cutS-gene mutants, there were others, showing mostly irregular, slight compatibility, which did not appear to be directly related to theS-gene mutation. In some of the progeny of certain of these mutants, partial or complete lack of the specificity of one or bothS alleles in the style was observed; in certain others all progeny were normal. This pseudo-compatibility is attributed to cytoplasmic mutations affecting the products of theS gene; however, the possibility of an effect of chance polygenic modifier combinations is not ruled out.Recent literature on theS-gene structure, mutational specificity ofS alleles, and genetic control of pseudo-compatibility is reviewed. The time ofS-gene action is discussed in relation to the mechanism of the generation of new self-incompatibility alleles.