Results of the Biochemical Study of Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) Mutants

Abstract

Background: Induced mutagenesis has been used in citrus breeding, in Georgia, since 1960, resulting in many interesting and promising mutant forms that require morphological, physiological and biochemical studies. The present paper presents the results of biochemical research of some promising mutants. Methods: During the period 2017-2019 investigate on 13 promising mutant forms of mandarin has been carried out. In the current study, phenolic composition content in the fruits of mandarin mutants were determined using Ultraviolet Spectrophotometer and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and their antioxidant capacities were evaluated using 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals.Result: The results have shown that different concentrations of mutagen effect on mandarin seeds and, accordingly, on the biochemical components which they include. In most cases, this leads to a positive result. The impact of the mutagen significantly increases the range of changes in biochemical components and varies over a wide range. Analyzing the data, we can conclude that the solutions of all concentrations of the Nash mutagen effect a change in the biochemical indicators in mutant forms. However, a wide range of variability is largely associated with the use of medium and low concentrations of the mutagen. In most cases, the majority of mutant forms significantly outperform the control variants in the content of biochemical components. The study has revealed a variety of mutant forms (gene pool), which characterized a whole complex of positive signs. Their use in selection allows getting perspective forms with positive features.