Question

Ovules produced by an entirely green plant contain a rare mutation in a nuclear gene that is involved in chlorophyll synthesis, and the gene encodes a nonfunctional protein. Predict the most likely color of the leaves on plants that are produced when these ovules are fertilized by pollen from a wild-type green plant.

Answer 1

The most likely color of the leaves on plants produced from crossing mutated green plant ovules with wild-type pollen will be green, due to the dominance of the wild-type allele for chlorophyll synthesis. In cases of incomplete dominance, a lighter green or variegated pattern may occur.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ovules of an entirely green plant contain a mutation in a nuclear gene involved in chlorophyll synthesis. When these ovules are fertilized by pollen from a wild-type green plant, it is likely that the resulting plants will show a variety of leaf colors. This variation stems from the genetics of Mendelian inheritance.

As chlorophyll is essential for the green color of plants, the nonfunctional protein produced by the mutated gene might prevent the synthesis of chlorophyll, leading to variegation or entirely different colored leaves. However, since pollination is from a wild-type plant, the offspring should be heterozygous for the gene, carrying one mutant and one wild-type allele. If the gene follows Mendelian genetics of a recessive mutant allele, the heterozygous condition should still result in green leaves because the wild-type allele would compensate.

Answer 2

The leaves on plants that are produced when these ovules are fertilized by pollen from a wild-type green plant will have white color.