studies on mutagenesis for quantitative traits in chrysanthemum dendranthema grandiflora tzvelev

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at the Horticulture Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut during 2022-23 and 2023-24 to determine the optimum dose of mutagens for inducing variability in chrysanthemum cultivars Pithika and Daali. The investigation involved 13 treatments5.00, 10.00, 15.00, 20.00, 25.00 and 30.00 Gy of gamma rays and 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 (%) of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) and replicated thrice. The results of the study revealed that control treatment recorded maximum survival percent, minimum days to first bud initiation, minimum days to first flowering and maximum duration of flowering. 10 Gy of gamma rays was found to create more morphological variation in chrysanthemum as compared to EMS. 10 Gy of gamma treatment was recorded highest plant height, maximum number of branches, number of leaves per plant, flower diameter, single flower weight and flower yield per plant whereas maximum number of flowers was noticed in 5 Gy of gamma rays treatment. The maximum leaf length, maximum leaf width and stem diameter was recoded in 0.10% of EMS. The parameters of genetic variability revealed high GCV and PCV for survival percentage, leaf length and flower yield per plant. However, the lowest GCV and PCV values were observed for flower duration, days taken to first bud initiation and days to first flowering. Estimates of high heritability with high genetic advance as per cent of mean (GAM) were observed for survival percentage, plant height, leaf length and flower yield per plant etc. indicating the possible role of additive gene action. Whereas, high heritability coupled with moderate genetic advance was observed for other traits which can be exploited through hybridization. Correlation studies revealed that highly significant and positive association of flower yield per plant with survival percentage, plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, number of branches per pl