Factors Influencing the Fluorescence of Oat Hulls under Ultraviolet Light¹

Abstract

Synopsis Mutation, environmental influence, and outcrossing were factors inducing variation in fluorescence characteristics of normal oat seed. Somatic mutations in several oat plants caused some tillers to produce fluorescent and others nonfluorescent seeds. Intermediate fluorescence probably does not exist genetically but was caused by an environmental influence. It appears that seed fluorescence should not be used as the sole criterion in determining varietal mixture in oat.