Induced macromutation in blackgram Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper

Seed samples of two varieties of blackgram namely, Basant Bahar and Sarala were treated withthree doses each of Gamma-rays, ethyl methane sulphonate, nitrosoguanidine and maleic hydrazide. In M1 generation, the mutagenic treatments showed reduction in mean values of all characters studied and magnitude of reduction was directly related to dose / concentration of mutagen. Such adverse effects in M1 parameters were more pronounced in MH, NG and Gamma-rays + MH combination treatment. The varieties also showed differential response to mutagenic treatments. In M2 generation the mutagenic treatments were effective in inducing various types of chlorophyll and morphological macromutants and few of those affecting flowering, maturity and plant height were of some breeding value. The frequency of chlorophyll mutations were generally higher in moderate and higher doses of mutagens whereas morphological mutations were higher in middle doses of all mutagens and combined treatments. On an average, the frequency of morphological mutations were higher on NG and EMS treatments of Basant Bahar and combined treatments in case of Sarala.