Analysis of induced genetic variability for morphological and floral characters with male sterility in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Male sterility can be useful to obtain high yielding sesame hybrids with reduced cost and labour. It can be induced artificially into the released cultivars by using chemical mutagens. Hence the present study was undertaken to induce male sterility in a released sesame genotype cv. B 67 by three different concentrations of Ethyl methane sulphonate (0.25%, 0.50% and 0.75%) and Nitroso-guanidine (0.01%, 0.02% and 0.04%). The treated seeds were sown to obtain M1 generation of mutants. This population was further advanced by progeny row method to M4 generation where thirty five stable mutants along with parent were screened for abnormal phenotypic and floral characters. The observation indicated generation of large variability for seven morphological characters and five floral characters among the mutants while male sterility could be achieved only up to 56.79%. These male sterile plants were characterized by low plant height, polypetalous and irregular or cleistogamous flowers. The present study implies that the above chemical mutagens can be used to develop useful male sterile mutants in sesame.