Micromutational variability induced by EMS and DES in one variety each of rapeseed (TS-29) and mustard (BM 35-9-9) was analysed for six polygenic traits of economic importance. Variability considerably increased for siliquas/plant, siliqua length, seeds/siliqua, and seed yield/plant. The rapeseed variety was more responsive to mutagenic treatment than the mustard variety, and DES increased micromutational variability to a greater extent than EMS.
Micromutation, variability, chemical mutagens, rapeseed, mustard