Abstract

Mutation frequency, effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays, ethyl methane sulphonate individually and in their combination treatments were assessed in mungbean cultivars PDM 11 and PDM 54. The study revealed that ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) was found to be more effective in inducing mutations in both the cultivars than gamma rays. However EMS was also found more efficient than gamma ray treatment. The efficiency of combination treatments was also higher than the gamma rays and EMS alone. There was a progressive increase in mutation frequency of chlorophyll and viable mutations like injury, pollen sterility and reduction in ovule fertility with the increase in doses of the mutagen. Both mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency were found to be higher at higher doses of gamma rays and ethyl methane sulphonate. Varietal preference to mutagens was also noticed in the present study

Keywords: Mutagens, gamma rays, ethyl methane sulphonate, pollen sterility, ovule sterility, mutation frequency