Division of Horticulture, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi-12
*Present address: Planning & Development Division, F.C.I. Ltd., Sindri, Dhanbad (Bihar).
1A part of the thesis submitted for Ph.D. degree of I.A.R.I. by P. K. DAS.
Studies on the effect of acute gamma irradiation on seeds, cuttings and pollen of grape have shown that an exposure of 2–6 kr and 10 kr was optimum for unrooted, dormant cuttings and wet stratified seeds, respectively. No conclusive exposure data were obtained in regard to pollen irradiation. EMS treatment of seeds has indicated that a concentration of 0-2-0-5 would be effective.
The primary biological effects of both the mutagens were found in the form of reduction and delay in germination of seeds or sprouting of cuttings, reduction in plant height and various types of leaf anomalies in earlier stages of plant growth. In a comparative study of seed treatment with gamma ray and EMS, EMS treatments were found to be less injurious to growth attributes as compared to gamma rays.
