What are Qualitative Characters? – Definition
Characters or traits those are governed by one or few genes are called as qualitative characters.
Examples – Seed shape, seed color, seed form
Features of Qualitative characters
- Individual gene effect is quit large
- Individual gene effect is detectable as it is large
- Gene action working behind is mostly non-additive type i.e. epistastic or dominance gene interaction
- Effect of environmental factors is very less as compared to quantitative characters
- Stability of characters governed by one or some genes is comparatively high
- Grouping of qualitative characters into different classes is possible as variation is discontinuous
- Transgressive segregation is not possible with qualitative characters
- Mendelian genetics or population genetics studies qualitative characters inheritance