Studies on the induction of mutation for quantitative traits in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.)

Abstract

The main objective of the present study was to enhance the genetic variability in yield and other quantitative traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a self pollinated crop. Due to lack of sufficient naturalvariability, conventional methods of plant breeding have a limited scope in the improvement of chickpea. Therefore, an attempt was made to evaluate genetic variability in different generations of single and combined treatments of gamma rays and ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) in the two varieties, Pusa-256 and BG-1053 of chickpea. Various other aspects of this study were:(i) bio-physiological damages and cytological aberrations in M1 generation (ii) frequency and spectrum of chlorophyll and morphological mutations (iii) effectiveness and efficiency of the mutagens (iv) estimation of genetic parameters viz., genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability (broad-sense) and genetic advance in different quantitative traits (v) estimation of some mineral elements (iron, manganese, zinc and copper) compositions and physiological parameters (NRA, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents) in the high yielding mutant lines (vi) estimation of seed protein contents and protein profiling of the high yielding mutants isolated in M3 generation. The effect of gamma rays and EMS and their combination treatments were studied on seed germination, seedling height, NRA, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, pollen fertility and plant survival at maturity in M1 generation. A linear ependence of seed germination, seedling height and pollen fertility on dose of the mutagens was observed in both the varieties of chickpea. Plant survival at maturity, NRA, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents decreased in all treatments of the mutagens. However, such parameters were dose independent. Combination treatments showed an enhanced effect on seed germination, seedling height and pollen fertility in comparison to individual mutagenic treatments.