Abstract

The seeds of microsperma lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) variety Pant L 406 were irradiated with gamma rays (10,15, 20, 25 and 30 kR) and treated with EMS (0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05 M) and combination of EMS (0.03 M) with all doses of gamma rays. Positive and negative shift in mean values were observed for days to maturity, plant height, primary and secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, grain yield per plant, 100 grain weight, number of nodules per plant, nodule dry weight and protein content in M2 and M3 generations. The lower dose of gamma rays (10 kR) and EMS (0.02 M) treatments increased the mean values for all the characters in both M2 and M3 generations except for protein content in M3 generation. Generally the higher doses of mutagen decreased the mean values for most of the characters. In case of plant height dwarfness was induced at higher doses of mutagenic treatments (single and combination doses). Significant increase in mean values for number of nodules per plant was observed at 10 kR and 20 kR of gamma rays, 0.02 M EMS and combination treatment (0.03 M +15 kR) in M3 generation. The maximum value of coefficient of variability (CV) was observed for pods per plant at 0.05 M EMS in M2 and 0.04 M EMS in M3 generation. In general, variability was directly proportional to the doses of mutagenic treatments

Keywords: Lentil, mutagen, genetic variability, yield, protein content