Discuss the genetic basis of wrinkled phenotype of pea seed.
Generally, seeds dry before dispersal and germination. The amount of starch in the seed decides whether the seed will be round or wrinkled, and the relative amount of starch is looked after by a gene. If there is less than required starch in the seed, it will be wrinkled. In pea plants, a mutant gene’s enzymes are responsible for reducing the amount of starch in seeds and hence, the seeds become wrinkled.