Mutation spectrum and mutagenic effectiveness of gamma rays in banana cv Grand Naine

A study on morphological and chlorophyll type of mutants, mutation frequency and mutagenic effectiveness induced by different doses of gamma was conducted on banana cv Grand Naine. The experiment consisted of treatments including control and six doses at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 Gy of gamma rays. The mutation spectrum revealed that the extent of mutation induced with gamma irradiation was 18.25 per cent and dwarf stature dominated the spectrum. The mutation frequency ranged from 3.2 to 54.74 per cent in different treatments under study in banana plantlets as affected by gamma irradiation. The treatment 40 Gy induced the highest mutation frequency (54.74%) and mutation effectiveness (0.15 Mp/kR) over remaining treatments under investigation.