Journal of Experimental Agriculture International

Chlorophyll mutations form an important part of study during the mutation breeding experiments. During a mutation breeding experiment, a breeder has to screen chlorophyll mutations grown in a particular mutant population. This is important for a breeder to check the potency of a particular mutagen in inducing mutagenesis. Chlorophyll is an important pigment in plant for making food during photosynthesis. So, for a breeder it is important to check the optimum dose/concentration of mutagen in inducing chlorophyll mutations in addition to other parameters. The present experiment was conducted to develop and screen different chlorophyll mutations by single and combined treatments of gamma rays and ethyl methanesulphonate. The screening of mutants was carried out in M₂ generation of two varieties of Vicia faba L. viz., Vikrant and PRT-12. The seeds of both varieties were given individual doses/concentrations of gamma rays (100 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy and 400 Gy), EMS (.01%, .02%, .03% and .04%) and their combinations (100 Gy + .01% EMS, 200 Gy + .02% EMS, 300 Gy + .03% EMS and 400 Gy + .04% EMS). The seeds were sown to raise the M₁ generation. The M₁ generation seeds were collected and sown in the next season to raise the M₂ generation. M₂ generation was screened for different chlorophyll mutations. Different chlorophyll mutations observed were chlorina, albina, xantha, viridis, aurea, tigrina and maculata. The frequency of chlorophyll mutations increased with increasing concentrations of both single and combined treatments. Combined treatments produced more chlorophyll mutations followed by individual concentrations/doses of EMS and gamma rays. Reason for higher frequency of chlorophyll mutants in combination treatments may be due to higher induction of mutations in genes controlling chlorophyll biosynthesis Both single and combined treatments induced more chlorophyll mutations in variety Vikrant than in variety PRT-12.