Abstract:
The effect of gamma rays and ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) mutagens on seed germination and plant survival of four chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes including two desi (Pb2000 and C44), one kabuli (Pb-1) and one desi x kabuli introgression genotype (CH40/91) was investigated in the M1 generation under field conditions. Seed germination and plant survival decreased in a linear fashion with the increase in gamma irradiation and EMS doses. EMS dose of 0.4% proved most lethal and reduced the percentage of survived plants in desi genotypes Pb2000 and C44 to 68.3% and 62.7%, respectively. In case of kabuli cultivars Pb-1, gamma irradiation of 300Gy and in CH40/91 EMS dose of 0.2 and 0.3% were most lethal doses and reduced the percentage of survived plants to 67.9, 24.4 and 24.2%, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (P>0.01) among genotypes as well as among different treatment doses regarding plant survival. Highly significant effects of dose x variety interaction for plant survival were observed. From the field experiment, desi type cultivars Pb2000, C44 and kabuli type cultivar Pb-1 appeared to be more radio and EMS resistant whereas CH40/91 was the least radio and EMS resistant.
