Genetic control of white flower color in scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus Walter)

Scarlet rosemallow (Hibiscus coccineus Walter) is a diploid, perennial, erect, and woody shrub. The species is a desirable inclusion in home landscapes because it is a native plant with attractive flowers and unusual foliage. The objective of these experiments was to determine the number of loci, number of alleles, and gene action controlling flower color (red vs. white) in scarlet rosemallow. Three white-flowered and 1 red-flowered parental lines were used to create S(1) and F(1) populations, which were self-pollinated or backcrossed to generate S(2), F(2), and BC(1) populations. Evaluation of these generations showed that flower color in these populations was controlled by a single diallelic locus with red flower color completely dominant to white. I propose that this locus be named "white flower" with alleles W and w.