The Action of Chemical Mutagens on the Characteristics of Nigella Damascena L. Plants in M1 Generation

Abstract

The effect of the chemical mutagens EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate), NMU (nitrosomethylurea), and the new mutagen DG-2 on a number of traits of Nigella damascena L. of the variety “Charivnytsya” in the M1 generation was studied. It was found that treating love-in-a-mist with these chemical mutagens changed such characteristics as plant survival, plant height, number of capsules per plant, number of side shoots and number of seeds from one plant. The dependence of the change in the studied traits on the type of chemical mutagen, its concentration and exposure duration was revealed. Nitrosomethylurea had the greatest influence on plant survival. After treatment with this mutagen at a maximum concentration of 0.05% and with a maximum exposure of 16 hours, the number of surviving plants was 4.3%. The effect of DG-2 mutagen at the concentration of 0.5% and 16 hours’ exposure on the survival of M1 plants was the least different from the control group. In this treatment 60.6% of plants survived, with a control value of 61.7%. The tested mutagens caused the appearance in plants of chlorophyll morphoses with a frequency of up to 0.93%, they were characterized by a change in the color of the leaves and capsule leaflets. Nitrosomethylurea had the greatest influence on the plant height and the number of seeds per plant at the concentrations of 0.01 and 0.05% with 6 and 16 hours’ exposure, respectively. After treatment with NMU at the concentration of 0.05% with exposure of 16 hours all plants were found to be unviable. After treatment with NMU at the concentration of 0.01% with 6 hours’ exposure, the average number of seeds per plant was minimal - 17.5 pieces, and plant height - 25.9 cm. The smallest but statistically significant effect on the studied parameters was noted after treatment with mutagen DG-2. In the case of the mutagen concentration of 0.05% and 16 hours’ exposure the average plant height was 40.7 cm, and the average number of seeds - 112.0 pieces, with control values of 47.0 cm and 237.1 pieces, respectively. The revealed changes in the M1 generation imply mutations of different directions in the next generation of love-in-a-mist.