Induced mutagenesis in African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

An investigation to study the nature and effect of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) and diethyl sulphate (DES) on marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) showed that the low to medium PCV, low GCV and low to moderate heritability with low genetic advance for all the characters in M₂ generation. Among all the treatments for various characters including the economic ones such as number of flower heads per plant, flower yield per plant showed the maximum mean value, GCV, heritability and genetic advance as per cent of mean in 0.2 per cent of DES treatment. Treatments, 0.6 per cent of EMS and 0.2 per cent of DES were recommended for induction of variability.