PHENOTYPIC VARIATION AND THE POLYPHENOLS CONTENT ALTERATION OF CELOSIA CRISTATA DUE TO CHRONICALLY INDUCED MUTATION USING ETHYL METHANE SULPHONATE

Abstract

Celosia cristata is one of the floricultural commodities which also beneficial as a medicinal plant. Mutation techniques can effectively increase the morphological diversity and biochemical content of C. cristata. Chronically induced mutation using ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) was first applied to C. cristata to increase morphological diversity and biochemical properties. This study proposes modifying the mutation induction technique that allows plant material to be exposed to a mutagen (a substance that causes mutations) for a long time, with minimum damage to genetic material and cell components. Thus, this modification method can produce more new plants with favorable traits for the breeding program. The present study aims to evaluate the morphological diversity and polyphenol content of C. cristata that emerge due to chronic mutation using EMS. C. cristata seeds were immersed in EMS solution which consisted of 4 treatment levels, namely: 0% (Control); 0.0278% for 6 hours; 0.00278% for 1 day; 0.000278% for 2 days. The polyphenol content analysis of C. cristata using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and analysis of the flavonoid content based on the colorimetric-AlCl3 method. The antioxidant activity of C. cristata was estimated through two assays, including 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Chronic mutation induction using EMS was shown to affect the growth of C. cristata. In addition, changes in plant morphology such as intensity of anthocyanin coloration at the base, leaf shape, leaf color, and flower shape also occurred due to chronic mutations. Chronically induced mutation increased flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity, according to the FRAP method, of C. cristata. In summary, the chronic mutation method using EMS is promising to increase the morphological diversity and biochemical content of C. cristata. Henceforth, this method can be applied in breeding programs to produce new plants with desirable traits.