Abstract
Amaranthus hybridus L. is an important vegetable in Nigeria, grown mainly for its highly nutritious leaves. In a bid to explore the possibility of increasing the infra-specific diversity of the crop, we induced three accessions of A. hybridus from Anambra State, Nigeria with x-ray particles using various concentration levels. The experimental layout composed a 5 x 3 x 3 Randomized Complete Block Design arrangement, with treatment levels: 1 MGY, 2 MGY, 4 MGY, and 6 MGY, selectively allotted to the different accession based on a preliminary dosimetry test. Morphological data were recorded and subsequently leaves samples subjected to Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) extraction and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The results show that except for inflorescence weight, other morphological data were not statistically significant. However, RAPD techniques identify some variations induced by x-ray particles on the different accessions. Ogbunike accession irradiated with 4 MGY appears to show the optimum concentration of x-ray particles required to induce genetic variability in A. hybridus. These findings are of paramount importance to plant breeders, whose primary tool is to identify variations to produce better yielding varieties.
Highlights
Genetic variation is advantageous to a population because it enables some individuals to adapt to the environment at the same time, ensuring population survival in the ever changing environmental condition [1,2]
The effect of different doses of x-ray irradiation on the morphological characters of the three accessions of Amaranthus hybridus L. is depicted in table 3 below
From the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) result, it was noticed that Oye Olisa accession treated with 5 MGY and 6 MGY has three bands of 1500 bp, 1400 bp, and 800 bp with primer T-06 which is not noticed in the control
Summary
Genetic variation is advantageous to a population because it enables some individuals to adapt to the environment at the same time, ensuring population survival in the ever changing environmental condition [1,2]. 19 Beluchukwu Joseph Nwankwo et al.: X-ray Induced Genetic Variability in Amaranthus hybridus L. and Analysis of Variants Using Morphological and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Data selection produces evolutionary change [4]. A study [34] mutated Amaranthus caudatus L. with Gamma rays and successfully obtained semi-dwarf and dwarf stature, non-branching pattern, improved protein content and pigment mutations (colour of plants and grains). These mutations which cause change in the plant phylogeny can lead to the formation of new plant varieties, which needs to be examined and identified appropriately
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