Characteristics and developmental morphology of three agronomically useful mutants in lentil (Lens culinaris)

Abstract

A study was conducted during winter season (rabi) of 1995-96 on the characteristics, developmental morphologyand seed protein contents of 3 induced mutants of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), viz early maturing,fasciated and high yielding types. One mutant (early maturing) exhibited significant reduction in maturity period(by 19 days) while in the other two mutants, the shoot system was altered in one way or other. Marked increasein plaut height was noticed in high yielding mutant and to some extent in the fasciated also because of increasein length and number ofinternodes. Plant grain yield was higher in all the mutants with more than 100% increasein the high-yielding mutant. Fasciated mutant waS characterized by the presence offasciation of stem and upperbranches and has more number of flowers/plant. Seed protein content was comparatively high in early maturing(22.75%) over the parent (22.31%) but low in fasciated (20.56%) and high yielding (19.25%) mutants: Highyidding mutant with its vigorous growth enhanced branching and increase in yield has immense breeding value.Early maturing mutant is more suitable for late sown conditions.