Induction, inheritance pattern and agronomic performance of awned mutants in a multiple disease resistant bread wheat cultlvar

Awning was induced in a 1RS-1BL awnless bread wheat cultivar ‘CPAN 1922’ through gamma-irradiation at 3 doses (10, 20 and 30 kR). In M₂ generation, 10kR gave the highest mutation frequency and was the most effective as well as efficient treatment for inducing awnedness. The parent variety is indicated to possess a single dominant awn inhibitor B₁. Four promising fully-awned mutants were agronomically evaluated in M₃ and M₄ generations for grain yield/plant, plant height, tillers/plant, spike length, spikelets/spike, grains/spike and 1000-grain weight. Of these, an agronomically superior mutant has been identified.