Assessment of genetic variability and association among yield traits in M₁ population of menthol mint cv. CIM-Kranti

Menthol mint, a perennial herbaceous aromatic plant cultivated as an annual herb for its commercial valued essential oil. Mint is highly heterozygous in its genetic constitution and vegetatively propagated by stolons, making it a promising material for inducing mutation and creation of desired variability. Mint cultivar CIM-Kranti was subjected to gamma irradiation (20 Gy and 40 Gy) and each M₁plant was analysed for variability and desired characteristics. A total of 58 promising putative mutants selected from M₁ generation based on growth and yield parameters were forwarded to M₂. In this study maximum survival percentage (85.71%) was found in control followed by 20 Gy (68.27%) and minimum (26.08%) was observed at 40 Gy. Study revealed that the exposure of stolons to gamma rays created significant variability in plant height, plant spread, number of branches, leaf area, fresh herb yield and shade dried herb yield. Further, fresh herb yield was found to have significantly and positively correlated with plant height, leaf area, plant spread and number of branches in M₁ population.