Determination of Lethal Dose 50 for Induced Mutagenesis in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] cv. Gepak Kuning Through Ethyl Methane Sulfonate Mutagen

Abstract

Background: The improvement of the genetic and agronomic properties of cultivated plants can be carried out by various plant breeding methods, including mutation breeding. Mutations in nature are very few and rare. Ethyl Methane Sulfonate (EMS) is a chemical mutagen that can cause random mutations resulting in changes in genetic material. This study aims to determine the effect of EMS on the germination of soybean (cv. Gepak Kuning) seeds. Methods: The research was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture Laboratory, Universitas Malikussaleh, Indonesia, in January 2023. The concentrations of EMS used were 0%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% with a soaking time of 4 hours. EMS concentration of 0% was used as a control treatment. The observed variables were made as percentage of germination (%) and seedling height at 7th day and 14th day after planting. Result: The results showed that an increase in EMS concentration affected the percentage of germination of soybean (cv. Gepak Kuning) sprouts. A decrease in the percentage of germination was found at an EMS concentration of 0.5%, while a decrease in seedling height had begun to be seen at an EMS concentration of 0.25%. The results of the analysis with CurveExpert 1.4 software showed that the LD50 value of the seeds of soybean (cv. Gepak Kuning) treated with EMS mutagen was at a concentration of 0.63%, the LD20 dan LD30 value was at a concentration of 0.25% and 0.41%, respectively.