Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding (The)
Year : 1981, Volume : 41, Issue : 3
First page : ( 328) Last page : ( 333)
Print ISSN : 0019-5200. Online ISSN : 0975-6906.

Induced Chlorophyll Mutations in Lentil

Sharma S K*, Sharma B

Division of Genetics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012

*Present address: Central Potato Research Station, Kufri, Simla-171 006.

Abstract

Four mutations affecting chlorophyll synthesis in two small seeded (microsperma) and two large seeded (macrosperma) varieties of lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) were recorded following treatment with gamma-rays and N-nitroso-N-methyl urea (NMU). Albina and xantha were completely lethal. Chlorina with green-yellow colour had partial viability, and viridis mutants reached to maturity. The frequency of chlorophyll mutations was correlated with the dose of gamma-rays and NMU in both the varietal groups. At a common biological parameter (LD₅₀ for plant survival), the frequency of chlorophyll mutations was 1 5–2 times greater in the NMU treatment than with gamma-irradiation. There were no varietal or mutagenic differences with regard to the spectrum and relative proportion of chlorophyll mutations. The induction of four different chlorophyll mutations with similar relative proportion is a reflection of parallelism in genetic variability. NMU was 2 5—5 fold more effective and 1 4—1 8 fold efficient than gamma-rays. The chlorophyll mutations of the same categories induced in the microsperma varieties had better survival and fertility than in the varieties from the macrosperma group.

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