Effect of gamma irradiation and ethyl methane sulphonate in annual moringa (Moringa oleifera L.) variety PKM-1

Abstract

The main aim of the plant breeding is to change and improve the genetic structure of plants to meet the demands of farmers. Alternatively, breeders have been using mutation breeding to overcome the problem of low genetic variation. Gamma rays and EMS, is widely employed to induce genetic diversity on many plant species and hence they were used to induce mutations in Moringa variety PKM - 1. The observations were made on seed germination and survivability in M1 generation. The study revealed that germination percentage and survivability were decreased by increasing dose/concentration of the mutagens when compared to the untreated control. Gamma rays and EMS were effective in creating mutations with lower biological damage in Moringa and they can be used as potential mutagens that can induce desirable mutations in Moringa.