Comparative effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays, ethyl methane sulfonate and maleic hydrazide in induction of chlorophyll mutations in black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

The present investigation was taken up to study the effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays, ethyl methane sulfonate and maleic hydrazide in induction of chlorophyll mutations in two blackgram varieties viz., LBG 752 and TBG 104. The seeds were treated with different doses/concentrations of gamma rays (200 Gy, 300 Gy, 400 Gy, 500 Gy and 600 Gy), EMS (Ethyl methane sulfonate) (0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5% and 0.6%) and MH (Maleic Hydrazide) (0.01%, 0.02% and 0.03%). A wide spectrum of chlorophyll mutations viz., albina, xantha and chlorina was observed in M2 generation and chlorina was the most frequent chlorophyll mutant in all the mutagen treated populations of both the varieties. There was a dose dependent increase in the frequency of chlorophyll mutations. This study showed that the effectiveness and efficiency of chlorophyll mutations declined considerably with the increase in dose of the mutagens. MH treatments were more effective followed by EMS and gamma rays treatments in both the varieties. With respect to efficiency, the gamma rays were more efficient followed by EMS and MH treatments in both the varieties for inducing chlorophyll mutations on the basis of injury, lethality and sterility except based on lethality in TBG 104, where MH treatments showed highest value followed by gamma rays and EMS treatments.