Author(s):

Vishal Dinkar, Anju Arora, RK Panwar, SK Verma and Rohit

Abstract: Mutation breeding is an effective tool for creation of genetic variability in chickpea crop due to its self-pollinated nature and narrow genetic base. The seeds of three desi varieties released from Pantnagar were mutagenized with physical mutagen (gamma rays at 300 and 400 Gy doses) and chemical mutagen (ethyl-methane sulphonate @ 0.5%) and their combination treatments. M₁ generation showed gradual decrease in germination with increase in mutagen strength in addition to this, combination treatments caused more biological damage than individual mutagen treatment. In M₂ generation, variance for varieties revealed significant differences for thirteen agronomic traits except two i.e. number of primary branches per plant and pod length. However, all kinds of mutagenic treatments and variety x treatment variance were significant for eight traits including yield per plant. Different viable mutants were identified for early and late maturity, stem and leaf character, mutants with high number of primary branches or secondary branches and double mutants. In general, combined treatments 300 Gy + 0.5% EMS and 400 Gy + 0.5% EMS were observed to be most effective in inducing variability for most of the characters under study. But, frequency of viable mutants increased with increase in dose of gamma ray, whereas EMS alone gave comparatively higher frequency than combined treatments in all the three varieties. The isolated mutants suitable for mechanical harvesting and ideal plant type with early flowering can be used as genetic stocks and utilized in future crop improvement programs.

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