Genetic Analysis and Histological Study of Red Seed in Rice

Reciprocal crosses between red and achromatic rice revealed that the seed color of F1 was determined by its female parent. According to the seed color and plant segregation ratio of F1, F2, and F3 generations, the red phenotype of red double-haploid seed was determined by a dominant, monogene with maternal effect. Histological study showed that the red pigments accumulated in the pericarp layer only. The assay of developmental timing of pigment accumulation showed that the red color accumulated from desiccation stage to perfectly maturation stage of the seeds.