Research article evaluation of yield attributing variants developed through ethyl methane sulphonate in an important proteinaceous crop-vicia faba

Abstract

Background and Objective: In present situation of variable natural environment and high population, sustainable increase in agricultural productivity is highest preference. Induced mutagenesis known to be significant tool for generating gene variation without affecting genomic make up of crop and provide cogent accomplishment in crop improvement programme. This study was aimed to find out the response of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) on Vicia faba with a view to determine the effect of chemical mutagen on biological and cyto-morphological parameters in M1 generations. Material and Methods: The effect of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) was studied in Vicia faba L (2n = 12). Seeds were subjected to mutagenic treatments with 0.1, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% dose of ethyl methane sulphonate to develop viable variants in M1 generation. Different traits of variant were screened time to time and contrasted with untreated plants. Statistical analysis viz, mean (X), Standard Deviation (SD), Coefficient of Variation (CV %) were done to assess the intra and inter-population (mutagen) variations in different quantitative traits. Results: Three variants viz dwarf (0.75% EMS), tall variant with high yield (0.50% EMS) and bushy variants with high yield (0.25% EMS) were isolated from the M1 progeny of Vicia faba. Comparative observations were recorded for bio-physiological damages, morphological variations in shape, height and quantitative traits to assess the genetic response of the variants plants toward the different concentrations of chemicals. Different cytological anomalies such as univalents, multivalents, stickiness, laggards, bridges, stray, multinucleate condition were also observed in all variants. Conclusion: The moderate dose of EMS showed notable diminution in the biological damages while accelerating the rate of desirable high-yielding variants had proved to be economical. The segregate of the selected variants in future generations will definitely contribute to the improvement of Vica faba genotype and these variants may be used as valuable breeding stocks for Vicia faba breeding.