Induced Viable Mutations in Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek)

Mutation breeding is a useful technique for creation and selection of desirable variability in a crop and could be a driving force for evolution besides selection in a crop like mungbean, where designed cross pollination is tedious. Macro mutation can be used as a variety or donor for bringing desirable traits into the otherwise well adapted cultivars. An investigation was carried out in two mungbean genotypes viz., CO (Gg) 7 and NM 65 treated by two mutagens viz., gamma rays and ethyl methane sulphonate. In M₂ generation, thegamma rays doses 300, 400 and 500 Gy and EMS treatments 10, 20 and 30 mM were raised based on LD₅₀ value obtained in M₁ generation. A wide range of viable mutants on stature, duration, leaf, pod, seed size, seed colour and other morphological variations were isolated in the M₂ generation. It was found to be higher in gamma ray treatments of CO (Gg) 7 and EMS treatments of NM 65. The highest frequency rate was noted at 400 Gray and 20 mM on M₁ Plant basis and 300 Gy and 10 mM on M₂ seedling basis in both the genotypes.