Induced Viable Mutations in Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

Mutation breeding is a useful technique for creation and selection of desirable variability in a crop and could be a driving force for evolution besides selection in a crop like mungbean, where designed cross pollination is tedious. Macro mutation can be used as a variety or donor for bringing desirable traits into the otherwise well adapted cultivars. An investigation was carried out in two mungbean genotypes viz., CO (Gg) 7 and NM 65 treated by two mutagens viz., gamma rays and ethyl methane sulphonate. In M2 generation, thegamma rays doses 300, 400 and 500 Gy and EMS treatments 10, 20 and 30 mM were raised based on LD50 value obtained in M1 generation. A wide range of viable mutants on stature, duration, leaf, pod, seed size, seed colour and other morphological variations were isolated in the M2 generation. It was found to be higher in gamma ray treatments of CO (Gg) 7 and EMS treatments of NM 65. The highest frequency rate was noted at 400 Gray and 20 mM on M1 Plant basis and 300 Gy and 10 mM on M2 seedling basis in both the genotypes.