Mutation in chrysanthemum through gamma irradiation

Unrooted cuttings of chrysanthemum cultivar Red Gold were irradiated with 10,20 and 30 Gy gamma rays to induce favorable variation. Lower doses of gamma irradiation resulted in hormesis and induced encouraging novelties while the higher doses often induced high degree of abnormalities and consequent mortality. Colour novelties induced by the mutagens were isolated and purified in M2 generation.