Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, India
*Part of Ph.D. Thesis submitted by the senior author to the Banaras Hindu University.
The quantitative and qualitative response of four indica rice cultivars to gamma irradiation was assessed in M1 and M2 generations. Minimum sensitivity was shown by plant lethality and the maximum by yield reduction. ‘Ratna’ appeared to be the most radioresistant cultivar and ‘T 141’ the most sensitive. In M2 the maximum frequency for chlorophyll mutations was exhibited by ‘GEB 24’, a radiosensitive type and minimum by ‘Ratna’. The effect of low seed moisture content was apparent in the higher response for all the four indices in M1 and higher frequency of chlorophyll mutations in M2 generation.
