Mutagenic Effect of Gamma Rays on Quantitative Traits and Grain Micronutrients in Finger Millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn]

An investigation was aimed at elucidating information on the genetic variability for quantitative traits and grain micronutrients through induced mutagenesis and to identify mutants with desirable characters of finger millet variety, L-5. M₂ population derived from selfing of M₁ plants of L-5 treated with different doses (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 KR) of gamma rays were used in the study. Observation on four quantitative traits viz., productive tillers per plant, number of fingers per earhead, Finger length (cm) and 6. Grain yield per plant (g). Most of the traits exhibit higher genetic variability parameters like genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, genetic advance as per cent of mean and high heritability at 40 KR and 50 KR doses of gamma rays treated populations over the parent. Eighteen M₂ families having high grain yield with desirable grain colour surpassing the parental mean were identified in M₂ generation. Of these, mutant M₂-64 was found to have high grain yield with increased calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) contents over the parent.