Frequency and spectrum of induced viable macromutations in chickpea

Present investigation was undertaken to study the frequency and spectrum of induced viable macromutations employing SA, EMS and gamma radiation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar Vishwas (Phule G 5). The seeds of chickpea, cultivar Vishwas were treated with three different concentrations / doses of SA (2, 3 and 4 mM), EMS (8, 12 and 16 mM) and gamma radiations (400, 500 and 600 Gy). The mutagen administered seeds were sown in experimental fields to raise M-1 progeny. Seeds of M-1 plants and control were harvested separately and sown to raise M-2 population. The M-2 progeny were screened for viable macromutaions. A wide spectrum of viable macromutations was isolated in the M-2 generation. In all twenty four different types of viable morphological macromutations were observed. These included 7 types of plant type mutations and 6 types of leaf mutations, 1 types of flower mutation, 5 types of pod mutation and 5 types of seed mutations. Results indicated that all mutagenic treatments were effective in inducing viable mutations in chickpea, during M2 generation. Differences in response to different mutagens were observed in the spectrum and frequency of viable mutations. Some mutation types occurred more frequently than others. The frequency and spectrum of viable mutations were relatively high with EMS followed by gamma radiation and SA. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made for increasing frequency and spectrum of locally important chickpea cultivar 'Vishwas' employing chemical and physical mutagens.