Biological effects of gamma rays and EMS in the M2 generation of red gram (Cajanus cajan L.)

Abstract

The studies reported herein were undertaken in the Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during the period 1984-86. Seeds of the M1 generation of SA-1 variety of red gram (Cajan L.) which were initially subjected to induced mutagenesis using five doses of gamma rays (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ) and five doses of EMS (0.3 , 0.4, 0.5, 0.6 and 0.7per cent) were made use of to raise the M2 generation and their biological effects were studied. It was observed that in the chlorophyll mutation frequencyrestricted on M2 progeny row basis and M2 seedling basis , the pattern of change in the frequency in relation to dose was found to be the same not only for gamma rays but also for EMS. In case of both the mutagens the frequency did not appear to exhibit any dose relationship.