Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency in barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) using physical, chemical and combination of mutagens

The present investigation was undertaken to study the frequency and spectrum of Chlorophyll mutations along with the mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of different doses of EMS, Gamma ray and combination of both, in barnyard millet variety CO(Kv). 2. In M2 generation, no chlorophyll mutations were observed in the control population. The treatments behaved differently in the frequency of occurrence of chlorophyll mutations. The spectrum of chlorophyll mutations (chlorina, xantha, albino, viridis, and striata) were observed and grouped. Except striata, remaining four kinds of mutations viz., xantha, chlorina, viridis and albino were observed more frequently. The overall mutation spectrum showed that chlorina (0.47%) occurred with the highest frequency, followed by albino (0.37%), xantha (0.26%) viridis (0.19%) and Striata (0.08%). The mutagenic effectiveness decreased with the increase in dose of mutagen in both mutagens, indicating that negative relationship between effectiveness and dose of mutagen. Mutagenic efficiency (mutation rate in relation to M1 damage) in both mutagens was highest at the lowest dose and it decreased with the increase in dose. The study concluded that Barnyard millet, Co(Kv).2 millet responds well to EMS, Gamma ray and combination of EMS and Gamma ray treatments.