Origin of Stripes
Naturally-occurring striped roses
have the genes for variegation. Stripes may also result from spontaneous or
induced mutations. Mutations are sudden changes that occur at a very low
frequency in a gene.
Spontaneous mutations (popularly known
as ‘sports’) alter the existing genes and their expression, resulting in
stripes. Induced mutations by irradiation or chemical mutagens also lead to
genetically-altered pigmentation, and the result is stripes. Stripes may
develop as a result of the transmission of genes responsible for stripes
through hybridization. Viral infection that causes variegation in tulips may
also cause stripes in roses. These infections could interfere with
physiological functions of pigmentation, giving them a striped appearance.
By Dr. Lakshmi Sridharan
