Induced macro-mutational spectrum and frequency in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

A mutation breeding study was carried out with sesame varieties viz., SVPR 1 and Cardeboriga using 5 doses each of gamma rays (10,20,30,40 and 50 krad) and ethyl methane sulphonate (0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6%). In general the spectrum of viable mutants included mutants with alteration in branching habit, plant height, phyllotaxy, nodal distance, flower character, nodal distance of the first capsule, capsule and seed characters with a total of 68 mutants in SVPR 1 and 32 mutants in Cardeboriga from gamma irradiated population and 83 mutants in SVPR 1 and 49 mutants in Cardeboriga from EMS treated population. Among the wide spectrum of viable mutants, economically important mutants such as mutants with determinate plant type, early flowering, more number of branches and capsules, altered phyllotaxy, main stem with shorter inter nodes, multicapsules per axil, multilocules, increased capsules etc., were isolated for further studies.