A mutation, tl2, in pea (Pisum sativum L.) affects leaf development only in the heterozygous state.

After gamma irradiation of pea seeds, a mutation designated as tendril-less2 (tl2) was induced. In the heterozygous state, it transforms tendrils into very narrow leaflets that resemble the heterozygote phenotype of the classic tl mutation. The tendrils of the double heterozygote tl2/+, tl/+ are converted into oval leaflets. Unlike tl, the novel mutation in the homozygous state does not affect tendrils. The leaf phenotype of homozygotes tl2/tl2 and Tl2/Tl2 do not differ in the tl/+ background. However, the anthocyanin pigmentation is strongly suppressed in petals of tl2/tl2 plants. Some hypotheses to explain the unusual phenotypic manifestation of tl2 are suggested.