Mutagenic effect of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) on barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentaceae) variety CO(KV)2

Abstract

Barnyard millet variety CO (KV) 2 was treated with 2 different doses of EMS (Ethyl Methane Sulfonate) (ie. 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0%). Six days after treatment germination percentage was calculated and LD50 value were fixed as 0.51%EMS. M1 population was raised with two treatments 04% and 0.5%. Seedlings with normal growth and development were observed in 0.4% EMS dose and very poor establishment, stunted growth and 80% spikelet sterility was observed in 0.5% EMS treatment. In M2 generation macro-mutants such as plant type, earliness, study stem, bigger panicle size and higher plant yield (28g/plant) were obtained.