Induction of morphological mutations and mutant phenotyping in black gram [Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper] using gamma rays and EMS

摘要

Global demand for grain legumes including black gram had increased tremendously in the recent past due to their high nutritional value especially in countries with soaring population growth. This necessitates the induction of genetic variation for continued supply of better yielding and improved varieties to the producers keeping in view the rapidly changing agroclimatic condition. In this study, the induced mutant populations of widely recommended T-9 and Pant U-30 varieties of urdbean were generated using single and combination treatments of gamma rays and ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). Investigation on induced phenotypic variations in individual plants of M2 population of different treatments resulted in identification and isolation of sixteen morphological mutant types affecting plant height, growth habit, leaf morphology, growth period, pod and seed. Frequency of morphological mutants was the highest in combined treatments of gamma rays and EMS followed by individual treatments of EMS and gamma rays. The spectrum of such mutant types was relatively wide in var. Pant U-30 as compared to the var. T-9. Mutants with altered plant height and pod numbers were of maximum occurrence in both the varieties. The mutants with increased pod number and size were found to be significantly correlated with the improved plant yield, thus selected directly for quantitative investigation in subsequent generations.