Effect of proton beam irradiation on survival and seedling growth parameters of Indian rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety ‘Indira Barani Dhan 1’

Rice crop, a staple food for a majority of population across the world, holds a significant role to play in alleviating the global hunger problem. Enhancement of genetic diversity of rice will serve to overcome constraints in sustained and ecologically effective improvement in the production of quality rice, challenged by erratic patterns of global climate, changing pest dynamics, resource availability in proportion to growing population etc. Proton ion beam has sprung up as a promising novel mutagen in the mutation breeding of crop plants, by virtue of its higher LET values, causing higher frequency of mutations. Dose optimization is pre-requisite to obtain a range of phenotypic mutants, without drastic reduction in survival and growth subsequently. This study was undertaken to standardize proton beam irradiation dose rate post the evaluation of in-vitro germination, growth and survival of rice variety IBD-1, with doses ranging from 0–500Gy. Doses between 152.47Gy253.53Gy were found suitable for mutagenesis, without drastically impairing growth and survival.