Chromosomal Damage Induced by Gamma Rays and ...

Chromosomal Damage Induced by Gamma Rays and Ethyl Methyl Sulphonate in Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Author Name : Vishnu Prasad Bhala, Rakesh Chandra Verma

ABSTRACT

The present study revealed the chromosomal behavior of Capsicum annuum L. following treatments with gamma (γ) rays and ethyl methyl sulphonate (EMS). The treated populations exhibited various meiotic abnormalities such as stray bivalent, multivalent, stickiness, univalents, fragments laggards, disturbed polarity and cytomixis. The frequency of meiotic aberrations increased with the increase in dose/conc. of the mutagens. Maximum frequency of meiotic aberrations was recorded at 25kR (21.52%) followed by 0.4% EMS (19.96%). In general γ-rays induced greater percentage of chromosomal aberrations followed by EMS. Pollen sterility also increased with the increase in mutagenic treatment, maximum sterility being observed at 0.4% EMS (59.64%). The order of effectiveness for pollen sterility was γ-rays > EMS. The lower dose/conc. of all these mutagens could be ideal for induction of micro-mutations and enhancement of genetic base in the crop species under consideration.

Keywords: Capsicum annuum L., chromosomal aberrations, Gamma rays, EMS and pollen sterility.