Study on EMS Induced Micro-mutational Variability in M2 Generation in Pigeon Pea(Cajanus Cajan L.)

Abstract

Background/Objectives: To assess the effect of Ethyl Methyl Sulphonate (EMS) on induction of genetic variability in pigeonpea genotypes MA 156 and MAL 13. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Healthy, dried, pure line seeds of the crop were pre-soaked in distilled water for 6 hours and treated with 0.01M, 0.015M and 0.02M aqueous solution of EMS in phosphate buffer solution. Treated seeds were thoroughly washed in the running tap water for four hours and sown in rows along with without treated seeds of each variety as control (soaked in distilled water for nine hours). Results/Findings: Secondary branches, number of pods and yield per plant were higher variable at 0.015M concentration whereas 50 per cent plant flowered and matured earlier at lower concentration of mutagen. Genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation were significantly higher for most of the traits studied i.e. Plant height, number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant, seed yield per plant and 100-seed weight. Conclusion/Application: All the mutagenic treatments were effective in inducing genetic variability in both the genotypes.