Question

In camellia plants, flower color is controlled by a single gene with codominant alleles. A camellia plants with red flowers (RR) is crossed with a camellia plant with white flowers (WW). What are the expected phenotypes of the offspring of this cross?

A.
All will have pink flowers.
B.
Half will have red flowers and half will have white flowers.
C.
All will have red flowers.
D.
All will have both red and white flowers.

Answer 1

The Expected Phenotypes

All will have both red and white flowers because the incomplete dominance have two combined alleles given for the offspring with intermediate phenotypes. Then offspring will be pink coloured while in codominance all alleles are expressed in phenotype in the offspring together so the red and white flowers both will be shown. Therefore, in camellia plants all will have both red and white flowers.

Answer 2

The answer is; D

It is important to distinguish between codominance and incomplete dominance.

In incomplete dominance, the two alleles blend with each other in phenotype giving offspring with intermediate phenotypes, hence offspring would produce pink flowers, in this case.

In codominance, both alleles are simultaneously expressed in phenotype in the offspring. Therefore flowers, in this case, would exhibit both red and white colors.