Four chemical mutagens, ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS),
ethidium bromide (EBr), ethyl nitroso urea (ENU) and
streptomycin were used to induce mutations in Brassica
juncea. EMS and EBr were found to be highly efficient
and yielded mutants for all the traits examined. Ninety
seven mutants were recovered in the M
2 generation of
800 families. Several novel mutations such as terminal
flower, tri- and tetra-locular siliqua, mUltiple anthers and
non-shattering pods were obtained and have been
described. In addition, agronomically valuable mutants
such as yellow seeds and cytoplasmic male sterility have
been isolated. Almost all these mutations were recessive,
although some of them appeared in M, generation itself.
The results show that mutagenesis is still relevant in
polyploid species. Ethidium bromide, in particular, appears
to be a very potent mutagen for Brassica.
Keywords: Brassica juncea, cytoplasmic male sterility, ethidium bromide, EMS, induced mutations
Year: 2001
Volume: 61
Issue: 4
Article DOI: NA
Print ISSN: 0019-5200
Online ISSN: 0975-6906
s. R. Bhat, A. Haque and V. L. Chopra info_circle