Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding
THUS were the Hebrews enjoined to sow their fields with unmixed
seed. The ancients were very much aware that varieties of crops deteriorate, indeed they went even so far as to aver that wheat degenerates to
oats or rye into barley. The degeneration ·of one species into another was
attributed to the influence of environment. As early as the third century
B. C., Theophrastos observed, " It is evident that the changes in fruits
when they are transplanted to new regions follow the variations of the
soil and of the sky, for from these two things and through them nourish;.
ment is supplied for all vegetation", and further, "The seeds are cha!l8ed
mainly in colour, they turn from black to white and from white to black.
Since this attribute is common to plants and animals, however, we must
seek a common cause. For, plant life and6nimal life agree in this that they
are not changed immediately, but only eventually-at the third generation.
(cf. Zirkle, 1935).
Year: 1942
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Article DOI: NA
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
B. S. Kadam info_circle
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