Mutagenic Effects of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate (EMS) on Quantitative Traits in M₁ Generation and the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Different Doses in Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The investigation on “Mutation induction in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.)” was carried out to study the mutagenic effects of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) on quantitative traits in M₁ generation and determine the effectiveness and efficiency of different doses of EMS.

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.

Two varieties of garden pea exposed to EMS showed varied responses to different concentrations. The inhibitory effects were apparent in germination, survival and pollen sterility in both varieties. The mean performances in the M₁ generation showed differential responses to different concentrations of EMS. Mutagenic effectiveness decreased with increased EMS concentrations. Mutagenic efficiency based on pollen sterility decreased and based on lethality increased with increased EMS concentrations. In subsequent generations of mutagenized populations, the plants with altered phenotypes might produce mutants with higher yields.