Gamma ray Induced Lightorange Flower Mutant in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and its inheritance

A dwarf mutant plant having small leaves and lightorange flower was identified in the M2 generation from gamma ray treated groundnut cultivar VRI 2. The mutant bred true in successive generations. An investigation was made to know the genetics of lightorange flower in groundnut mutant. The Spanish bunch cultivar VRI 2 having orange flower was crossed with the lightorange flower mutant. The F1 plants exhibited orange flower indicating that the orange colour is governed by dominant gene. However, the F2 population segregated as 3 orange: 1 lightorange flower indicating the lightorange flower trait is governed by a single recessive gene.