Published Paper Details:

In past period the crop breeding has been performed by using the genetic variability using conventional method. But now a days such techniques are insufficient for production of new cultivars to fulfil increased food demand. In such condition induced mutation technique which is new and supplementary tool used for evolving improved mutants with desirable agronomic characters. Some desirable mutants will be used directly in selection or beneficial in breeding programme. In the present investigation lima bean seeds were mutagenized with different doses of gamma rays (GR) ranging from 200, 300 and 400Gy, varying concentration of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4% and Sodium azide (SA) 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04%. Variations in the germination of seeds, seedling height, seedling injury, pollen fertility and survival of plant at maturity of lima bean were recorded in M1 generation. The effects of the mutagenic treatments on quantitative traits resulting in reduction in traits such as seed germination except 200Gy (93.11%), seedling height except 200Gy (13.15cm) and 0.02%SA (13.48cm) and survival of plant at maturity but increases seedling injury except 200Gy (-1.31%) and 0.02%SA (-3.85%), and pollen sterility was observed in treated M1 generated plants.