Different doses of gamma rays (20kR, 25kR and 30kR) were used to irradiate seeds of wheat genotype HD 2867. Treated seeds were sown along with control to study the induced variation and improvement in yield and yield contributing traits in M2 and M3 generations. The results revealed significant differences among the treatments. All three doses were quite effective in inducing genetic variability. The mean performance showed improvement in most of mutagenic treatments in M3 as compared to the corresponding treatments in M2 generation over untreated check. The most beneficial dose was 20kR. The impact of this dose was promising in days to flowering, number of tillers/plant, plant height, days taken from anthesis to maturity, days to maturity, test weight and yield/plant. However, high reduction in the mean value for all the characters were obtained in response to higher dose of gamma rays (30kR). It was concluded from this study that there was significant genetic variability induced through all the three mutagenic treatments. Significant enhancement in yield and yield contributing traits were observed at 20kR followed by 25kR. Under the influence of higher dose of gamma rays (30kR) significant reduction were observed in yield and yield attributes. It indicates that inducing genetic variability and improvement in quantitative traits would be possible through gamma rays.
Gamma rays, wheat cultivar, variability, yield and yield traits
