Induction and isolation of morphological mutations in different mutagenic damage groups in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik)

Seeds of a large seeded lentil cv., Precoz Selection, were treated with three doses each of gamma rays, ethylene imine (EI) and N-nitroso-N-ethyl urea (NEU). Based on the frequency of morphological mutations, the mutagens were arranged in the order; NEU > EI> gamma rays. Different damage groups induced morphological mutations in the order: HH > HL > LH > LL. The morphological mutations induced changes for growth habit (compact, bushy and prostrate), foliage (narrow, broad, curly, laciniata and tendrillar), plant height (tall and dwarf), and maturity and flowering behaviour (early, late and sterile). A mild relative mutagenic specificity, and differences in mutability of genes for different traits were observed. In general, the spectrum of morphological mutations was not influenced by the groups of M₁ damage, except that some mutation types occurred more frequently than others (quantitative difference) in certain groups.