Study of mutagenic effectiveness and mutagenic efficiency induced by two different mutagens in M2 generation of castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Abstract

Studies on mutagenic effectiveness and mutagenic efficiency of chemical mutagen (ethyl methane sulphonate) and antibiotic (streptomycin sulphate) on two castor genotypes i.e., VP 1 (M) and SKI 215. For mutagenesis, the germinating seeds of two genotypes of castor treated with EMS (50 and 60 mM) and streptomycin sulphate (1000 and 1500 ppm) studied by comparing their respective untreated controls. The LD50 (lethal dose) value was determined based upon the seed germination percentage. Evaluation of mutants revealed that morphological variant like leaf colour, plant height and stem thickness were observed in both the genotypes in M1 and M2 generation. Frequency of morphological mutants in both the genotypes increased with an increase in dose of mutagenic treatments. The efficiency of mutagenic treatments showed that antibiotic mutagen 1500 ppm streptomycin sulphate was most efficient. Mutagenic effectiveness was higher at lower doses whereas mutagenic efficiency was observed higher at higher doses in both the genotypes.