Effectiveness and Efficiency of Gamma Rays and EMS in Inducing Chlorophyll Mutations in M₂ Generation of Sweet Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

The present study was undertaken in sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] variety SSV 84. Seeds were treated with different concentration of Gamma rays and Ethyl methane sulphonate with treatment level of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 kR and 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mM, which induced chlorophyll mutation in sweet sorghum. Five different types of chlorophyll mutants viz., albino, chlorina, xantha, alboviridis and xanthaviridis were identified in the treated population. Effectiveness and efficiency increased along with increase in dose in all the mutagenic treatments. However, a slight decline was observed at the higher concentration. Frequency of Gamma rays wasfound to be more effective than EMS inproducing chlorophyll on M₁ and M₂ plant basis as well as efficient on lethality, injury and sterility bases.