Determination of LD50 dose for ethyl methane sulphonate induced mutagenesis in Bhagwa Pomegranate

Abstract

Mutation breeding utilizes both chemical and physical mutagens for inducing variability among existing genotypes. In mutation breeding, the estimation of LD50 is the initial step to finding the optimal dose to determine the best dose to produce a better revival of mutants with little population diminution. Pomegranate is a valued fruit and has immense nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties. Its hardy nature, low maintenance, wider adaptability, high yield with better keeping quality, and better remuneration make it the choicest fruit to be grown in non-traditional areas in Uttarakhand. Pomegranate cv. Bhagwa is a high yielding variety, soft seeded, and have attractive aril colour. In the current experiment, mutagenesis was performed on hardwood cuttings of ‘Bhagwa’ pomegranate using alkylating agent Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS). A total of 7 different treatments ranging from 25 mM to 150 mM were tested against control for their efficiency in mutant generation. The results revealed that there is a gradual decrease in the survival percentage of cuttings with increasing doses of mutagenic treatments. Based on the survival percentage of the treated cuttings, the probit curve analysis determined that the LD50 dosage of EMS for hardwood cuttings for Bhagwa pomegranate was 51.82 mM. Furthermore, reduction in chlorophyll content was observed with the application of higher doses of EMS.