When genes in a plant are mutated they have a different composition. Most of these mutant
genes end up killing the plant they are in: most are defective as well as mutated. But
every once in a while they are functional, they do the job the plant needs them to do, as
well as being different. These functional mutants are the source of new weed problems,
weed variants adapted to new niches in the field. In weeds, new mutants can be the source
of even more competitive, nasty weed biotypes. The best example of better adapted weed
mutants are herbicide resistant biotypes. There will be more about these nasty mutants in
the section on Adaptation.
Mutation can result in mutant genotypes with changes in almost any part of the plant.
Seedhead Mutants
Common Dandelion:
Pigweed Species-Group:
Foxtail Species-Group:
Leaf Mutants
All of the leaf mutants below are what is known as chimeras, they have different
genotype cells, and tissue layers, in their leaves. This condition causes the sectors of
normal green, light green, rippled surface, and white.
Velvetleaf:
Stinging Nettle:
Catnip:
