Induced Mutagenesis and Variability Study in the M₂ Generation of Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Mutation induction in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) aimed to study the induced genetic variability and identify desirable mutants in the M₂ generation with two varieties of garden pea, Kashi Nandini and Kashi Uday.

The two varieties of garden peas, Kashi Nandini and Kashi Uday, were subjected to mutagenic treatments with the EMS at 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40%. The M₁ generation was raised in RBD with two replications during Rabi 2019-20. Plants from three concentrations, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% EMS, were evaluated in M₁ plant progenies (M₂) during Rabi 2020-21. The M₂ was raised during Rabi 2020-21 in M₁ plant progenies using M₁ plants from three concentrations -0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% EMS of both varieties.

The two varieties that were exposed to EMS responded differently depending on the concentrations. The GCV and PCV were high for seedling height, fertile branches, pods/plant and seeds/pod in both parents at 0.15 and 0.20% EMS. The highest heritability and genetic advance were apparent for seedling height and seeds/pod at 0.10 and 0.20% EMS, while the estimates were moderate for seeds/pod with 0.20% EMS, followed by seeds/pod at 0.10% EMS and seedling height at 0.20% EMS. Desirable plants were visible for various quantitative traits in the M₂ generation. These mutants showed significant differences from the controls of both varieties in the treated populations at higher concentrations of EMS. Desirable micro mutants in M₂ resulted at 0.15 and 0.20% EMS, which need further evaluation in the M₃ for confirmation.