Ems and gamma radiation induced mutation in grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Present investigation has been undertaken to study the induction of mutation by individual and combination treatments of EMS and gamma rays in three diverged genotypes of grasspea viz. Nirmal, Biol-212 and Berhampur Local. Combination treatments caused the more biological damage (lethality, injury and sterility) followed by gamma rays and EMS alone. The LD₅₀ dose of gamma rays for Nirmal, Biol-212 and Berhampur Local corresponded to 590 Gy, 630 Gy and 539 Gy respectively. Above 0.5% EMS for Nirmal and Biol-212 and above 1% EMS in case of Berhampur Local was found to be lethal. Average total mutation frequency of three varieties together was highest (6.32%) in gamma radiation followed by both EMS and combination treatment (5.8%). The most efficient dose/concentration of gamma rays and EMS were found to be 400 Gy and 0.5% EMS respectively. Mutagenic efficiency increases and effectiveness decreases with increasing concentration of EMS but the consequence was showed almost inverse relationship in case of gamma rays. Overall, irrespective of genotypes, gamma rays and EMS respectively were found to be most efficient and effective mutagen.