Indian Journal of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Online)

An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm

2013 Vol. 2 (3) July-September, pp.73-76/Govardhan and Lal
Research Article
MUTAGENIC EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF GAMMA RAYS
IN FIELDPEA (PISUM SATIVUM L.)
*Govardhan G. and Lal G.M.
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Sam Higginbotom Institute of
Agriculture, Technology & Sciences - Allahabad-211007
*Author for Correspondence

ABSTRACT
The Present investigation was undertaken with an objective to determine the effect of gamma rays
on different biological parameters and efficacy of mutagen. The research programme was conducted
in two generations namely M 1 and M2 during rabi 2007-08 and 2008-09 at field Experimentation center,
Department of Genetics and plant Breeding, Sam Higginbotom Institute of Agriculture, Technology &
Sciences. The parent material, seeds of PUSA212 variety were irradiated with 10kR, 15kR, 20kR, 25kR
and 30kR doses of gamma rays at NBRI, Lucknow. Next day after treatment, the seeds along with control
were space planted for raising M1 generation. Each M 1 plant was harvested separately and desirable M1
individual plant progeny rows were laid in RBD for raising M 2 generation. In M1 generation, results
showed a dose dependent retardation in biological parameters like seed germination, plant survival and
20kR was depicted as LD50 indicating less damaging effect at lower doses on genetic material. In M 2
generation, Lower doses 10 kR and 15kR treatments were found as effective and efficient and a wide
range of induced variability was observed in almost all traits. The mutants with small pods, tall and
increased number of pods per plant were isolated in M 2 generation.

Key Words: Pisum Sativum L., Gamma Rays, Mutagenic Effectiveness, Mutagenic Efficiency, M1
Generation and M2 Generation.

INTRODUCTION
Pulse crops are also considered as grain legumes and have been valued as food, fodder and feed. Among
the food grains, pulses play a prominent role especially in supplying high quality dietary protein by
complementing staple. In the pulse basket, field pea occupies third position after chickpea and pigeonpea.
Across the globe, field pea was distributed to different continents like Asia, Africa, Europe, North
America and Australia. In India, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Rajasthan are
major field pea growing states however, Uttar Pradesh ranks first in area and production. In our country
field pea was cultivated over an area of 0.75 million hectares with a production of about 0.93 tonnes and
880kg/ha of productivity.
Mutation breeding is a supplementary breeding method which is rapid, potential and valuable tool to
create genetic variability for various quantitative and qualitative characters in crop plants. In general
mutation refers to sudden heritable change in the phenotype of an individual which may occur naturally or
by artificial induction due to change in the Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) sequences of a gene.
Induced mutations are produced by the use of mutagenic agents like physical mutagens (x-rays, Gamma
rays etc.) and chemical mutagens (alkalating agents, base analogues etc.).
However gamma rays act on genetic material by ionization leading to more of chromosomal rather than
point mutations and gamma rays are successfully used in plant breeding programmes because of its
simple application, good penetration, reproducibility and high mutation frequency and less disposal
problems.
In view of importance of field pea in Indian agriculture and its possible role in elimination of protein
calories malnutrition in poor mans diet, there is a need to evolve high yielding varieties with high protein
content. The efficacy of any mutagen in plant breeding depends on its effectiveness and efficiency.
Konzak et al., (1965). Genetic variability is essential for any crop improvement programme and its

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Indian Journal of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Online)
An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm
2013 Vol. 2 (3) July-September, pp.73-76/Govardhan and Lal
Research Article
creation and management are central to plant breeding. The investigation was carried out to determine
LD50 in M1 generation and to assess the efficacy of mutagen in M2 generation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The parent material used in the present mutation breeding experiment was PUSA-212 variety of fieldpea.
Uniform, healthy and dry seeds of field pea variety PUSA - 212 were irradiated with different doses viz.
10,15, 20 25,30 kilo Roentgen of gamma rays (source: cobalt 60) at NBRI, Lucknow.
Next day, treated seeds of each dose and control were sown in two rows with 50x40cm. spacing during
rabi 2007-08 for raising M1 generation.
Seed germination was calculated as proportion of seeds germinated in each treatment including control
and it was recorded 30 days after sowing in the field. Plant survival was calculated as proportion of plants
survived until maturity in each treatment including control. LD50 was depicted by drawing graph of plant
survival (%) versus dosage of gamma rays. In M2 generation, M1 plant progeny rows were raised and
mutants were observed during rabi 2008-2009.
Assessment of Mutation frequency, Mutagenic Effectiveness and Efficiency
Individual plants of the treatments including control were harvested separately in treatment wise and
desirable M 1 mutants was raised in M 2 generation then mutation frequency, Mutagenic effectiveness
and efficiency were calculated (Konzak et al., 1965) and expressed in percentage.
Mutation frequency
On M2 plant basis (% of mutated M2 plants) Mutation frequency was estimated as percent of segregating
M1 Plant progenies (Gaul, 1964).
Mutagenic Effectiveness
The ratio of "factor mutations to doses" means frequency of a given mutation at a given dose of mutagen
employed. Mutagenic effectiveness was calculated by the formula

Mutagenic Frequency in M2
Mutagenic Effectiveness =
Dose of Mutagen (kR)
Where, kR = kilo Roentgen of gamma rays
Mutagenic Efficiency
The ratio of "Factor mutations to biological damage" means desirable changes free from associated
undesirable changes on mutagenesis. Mutagenic efficiency was calculated by the formula

Mutagenic Frequency in M2
Mutagenic Efficiency =
% of lethality or Sterility in M1
Where,
Lethality was calculated as percentage of plant survival reduction
Sterility was calculated as percent of seed fertility reduction.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Data on germination and plant survival are presented in Table-I. In M1 generation dose dependent
retardation in seed germination was observed.
As compared to control maximum seed germination was recorded 93.75 percent, followed by 81.25
percent in the 10kR and 15kR treatments respectively while minimum seed germination was recorded
37.5 percent at highest dose 30kR in Table-I. It is observed that increased radiation. Reduction in
germination percentage was also recorded by Blixt, (1972), Ciftci et al., (2006), Kumari and Singh
(1996). Similar to seed germination percentage, plant survival also decreased with increasing dose in this
experiment It significantly indicates that increased lethality at higher doses.

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Indian Journal of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Online)
An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm
2013 Vol. 2 (3) July-September, pp.73-76/Govardhan and Lal
Research Article
The results obtained here were in conformity to that of Vinod and Sharma (1998). 20kR dose was
recorded as LD50 as it given fifty percent plant survival (figure 1). The results were similar to Shevchenko
et al., (1990) in pea, Shairul Rizidiyandi omar (2008) in chilli.

Table 1: Estimation of seed germination (%) and plant survival (%) in M1 generation
S.No. Dose Seed germination (%) Plant Survival (%)
Percentage Percent Percentage Percent
reduction reduction
1 Control 100 0.00 100 0.00

2 10kR 93.75 6.25 87.5 12.5

3 15kR 81.25 18.75 68.75 31.5

4 20kR 56.25 43.75 50.00 50.0

5 25kR 43.75 56.25 37.50 62.5

6 30kR 37.5 62.5 25.00 75.0

In M2 generation, mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of the mutagen exhibited inverse relationship
with increasing dose. Data was represented in Table-II. Most effective (2.00 percent) and efficient (1.60
percent) gamma radiation was 10kR on the basis of mutant plants in M2 generation. Lower doses found
most efficient which was similar to Amitava Paul and Singh (2005). The low variability for efficiency can
be interpreted by assuming that the extent of damage in M 1 generation determines the mutability of genes,
irrespective of mutagen used. Similar results observed by Gautam et al., (1992), Sharma et al., (2006) in
urdbean.

Table 2: Assessment of Mutagenic Effectiveness and Mutagenic Efficiency in M2 generation

Lethality Mutagenic
Mutagenic
Number or percent effectiveness
efficiency
M2 plant of M2 Mutation plant MP X 100
S.No Dose
population plants rate (MP) survival MP X 100
mutated reduction Dose
L
(L)
1. Control - - - - - -
2. 10kR 50 2 0.2 12.5 2.00 1.60
3. 15kR 50 2 0.13 31.5 0.86 0.41
4. 20kR 50 1 0.02 50.0 0.10 0.04
5. 25kR 50 1 0.02 62.5 0.08 0.03
6. 30kR 50 1 0.02 75.0 0.06 0.02

Conclusion
The experimental results revealed maximum seed germination and plant survival in 10kR after the
control. 20kR found as LD50 and concluded that lower doses 10kR and 15kR treatments are effective and

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Indian Journal of Plant Sciences ISSN: 2319-3824 (Online)
An Online International Journal Available at http://www.cibtech.org/jps.htm
2013 Vol. 2 (3) July-September, pp.73-76/Govardhan and Lal
Research Article
efficient. Lower effective doses may contribute considerable utility. A highly effective mutagen may not
be necessarily show high efficiency and vice versa. From this study it could be concluded that gamma
rays were more effective for production of viable mutants.

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Gaul H (1964). Mutation in plant breeding. Radiation Botany 2(1) 12-16.
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