Studies on induced mutations in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) I. Responses of the mutagenic treatments in M1 biological parameters

The effect of ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS), sodium azide (SA) and hydrazine hydrate (HZ) on seed germination, pollen fertility and survival at maturity were studied in two varieties viz., Avrodhi and BG- 256 of chickpea. A linear and dose dependant decrease on germination, pollen fertility and survival was observed in all the three mutagenic treatments in both the varieties. The maximum reduction in these parameters was observed to be induced by EMS treatments. Variety Avrodhi proved to be more sensitive to the mutagenic treatments than var. BG-256. Estimated values of LD50 for EMS, SA and HZ were observed to be 0.363, 0.045 and 0.052 for Avrodhi and 0.457, 0.058 and 0.070 for BG-256, respectively.