Effectiveness and Efficiency of Gamma Rays and Electron Beam in M2 Generation of Anna (R) 4 Rice Mutants

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the chlorophyll and viable mutation frequency in M2 generation of Anna(R) 4 rice variety induced through gamma rays and electron beam radiations with different dosages viz., 200Gy, 250Gy, 300Gy and 350Gy. The results showed that chlorophyll and viable mutation frequency was higher in electron beam (8.62 and 22.30) compared to gamma rays (8.11 and 13.40). The electron beam was found to have higher mean effectiveness (0.059) compared to gamma rays (0.04), while higher efficiency (0.723) was observed in gamma rays and fairly less efficiency was reported in electron beam (0.540). However, higher frequencies of viable and useful mutants were obtained in electron beam. Therefore the electron beam can be used as an alternate source for physical mutagen to produce useful mutants in rice improvement.