Genetic variability induced by gamma radiation and ethyl methane sulphonate on quantitative characters in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Abstract

The pure seeds of pigeonpea ((Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) genotype ICPL-87 and BSMR-736 were subjected to gamma radiation (50, 100, 200 and 300Gy) and Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (5, 10, 20 and 30mM) treatments. The mutations affecting gross morphological changes in growth and yield characters such as growth habit, flowering, plant height, plant maturity and grain yield were scored as quantitative characters. The micro mutations at the population level can be easily detected in the form of increased variations for quantitative traits in the segregation of mutagen treated populations. Micro mutations can alter morph physiological characters hence they are of a particular interest to the plant breeders. Both the mutagens, gamma radiations and EMS proved to be very effective to induce variability in quantitative traits like plant height, days required for first flowering and maturity, number of branches per plant, grain yield per plant and 100 seed weight in M2 generations for both genotypes. In present investigation positive as well as negative impact on quantitative traits was recorded.