Abstract

                                Mutation breeding is an important approach to crop improvement. Identifyingbeneficial mutagen and its optimum dose are the prerequisites for anysuccessful mutation breeding program. The present study aimed to identifythe optimum dose, mutagenic effectiveness, and efficiency of variousconcentrations of EMS mutagen in proso millet variety ATL 1. Ten treatmentconcentrations 10 to 100 mM and control were evaluated using germinationpaper, tray, and field method to estimate the effect of the mutagen onseedling growth and survival in M1 generation. Based on viable mutationfrequency in M2 generation, the mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency ofthe mutagen were determined. The mean lethal concentration (LD50) andmean concentration for 50 per cent reduction in growth (GR50) doses weredetermined to be 41 mM and 45 mM, respectively based on survival percent and shoot length reduction over control. The mutagenic effectivenesswas the highest at 50 mM and mutagenic efficiency was the highest at 40mM. Broad-spectrum of viable mutants was identified in M2 generation thatcould be utilized to develop improved cultivars in the crop.

Key words : Proso millet; Mutation; EMS; LD50; Mutagenic effectiveness; Efficiency