Effect of seed treatment by ethyl methane sulphonate on growth, flowering and yield of papaya cv. Pusa Dwarf

An experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, to find out the optimum doses of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) on growth, flowering and yield of papaya. The seeds of papaya were treated with chemical mutagen ‘ethyl methane sulphonate ’(0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00%). The results indicated that the seed treated with EMS @ 0.50%, significantly emerged earlier sprouts as compared to the other treatment. The maximum germination percentage, survival percentage was also observed in same treatment. Untreated plants produced maximum height of the plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf length and petiole length while, the plants obtained by the seed treatment with 0.50% EMS concentration produced maximum stem girth. While, maximum days to first flowering and plant height at flowering stage was observed under control. However, the plants produced by the seeds treatment with EMS @ 0.50% concentration produced maximum fruiting length, fruits per plant and fruit yield per plant during both the years.