Heavy-ion-induced mutants in sweet pepper isolated by M1 plant selection

Abstract

We examined the effects of heavy-ion bombardment on mutagenesis in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Dose–response studies indicated that 10 Gy irradiation of 12C or 20Ne ions on dry seeds is suitable for inducing mutations in plants. From 20Ne-irradiated M1 plants, putative mutants included two dwarf plants and one plant whose pericarp was yellow were isolated. Phenotypes of their M2 progeny were similar to those of the M1 plants and did not segregate. F1 plants resulting from reciprocal crosses between the mutants and wild-type plants showed the wild-type phenotype, but phenotypes of F2 and BC1F1 segregated at 1:3 (mutant:wild) and 1:1, respectively. These crossing experiments indicate that the three mutants have monogenic recessive mutations in nuclear genes. In light of these data, we discuss the effectiveness of using heavy-ion bombardment to mutate sweet peppers.