Induced mutations in lentil (Lens culinaris medik.)

Seeds of three lentil varieties were radiated with gamma radiation to determine the mutagen sensitivity. The increasing doses of gamma-rays decreased germination, root and shoot lengths, seedling fresh weight, pollen sterility and survival of plants. LD50 values determined for various seedling parameters. Chromatin volume and nuclear DNA amounts estimated revealed significant intervarietal variation with P-38 having highest values for both parameters. A correlation of radiation injuries with chromatin content and DNA amount was worked out and found to be positive. The frequency of chlorophyll mutation indicated a dose dependent increase in P-38 and P-577 with maximum mutations occurring at 300 Gy dose while in LL-19 chlorophyll mutations were more frequent at lower doses thereby suggesting differentials response of the three lentil varieties to gamma radiations. The spectrum of chlorophyll mutations induced includechlorina, xantha, virescent, xantho-viridis and redina types. The effectiveness and efficiency of gamma rays was higher at low dose levels and gradually decreased with increase in the dose of gamma rays