Ethyl methane sulphonate induced variability and meiotic aberrations in two economically important mutants of faba bean (Vicia faba)

Abstract

Effect of mutagenesis was studied in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) varieties 05/249 local and 05/233 HBP. Seeds of Vicia faba varieties 05/249 local and 05/233 HBP were subjected to 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.06%, and 0.08% of ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS). The mutagenic treatments of EMS in M₁ and induced variation in mean values for various quantitative traits such as, plant height, days to flowering, days to maturity, pod length, number of fertile branches/plant, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, 100 seed weight (g) and total plant yield (g) in M₂ generation. The present study also provides a comparative account of cytological effects of EMS on meiotic aberrations in two varieties. Different types of meiotic abnormalities as laggards, bridges, chromosome stickiness, stray chromosomes and precocious movement of chromosomes, disturbed polarity and multinucleate condition were recorded. The mean value of plant height, fertile branches/ plants and pods/plants were found to be significant in both the varieties while, seeds/pod and 100 seeds weight did not show any significant difference from the control. Yield/plant increased significant by in the var. 05/249 local but was not significant in var. 05/233 HBP.