Analysis of Variance
Analysis of Variance for MP-3382 and RWL-4106 for field and Laboratory characters as shown in Table 3 and 4 respectively indicated that there were significant differences among treatments for various characters. These differences were highly significant for field traits such as days to 50 percent flowering, plant height, number of tillers per plant, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, spike length, spikelets per spike, grain yield per plant, days to maturity, test weight and laboratory traits
viz. Germination (%), root length, shoot length and seed vigour index-I.
M1 generation
The inferences drawn for the results are based on mean performance where, effect of SA and HA on MP- 3382 and RVW-4106 for various characters and different treatments in M1 generation tabulated in Table 5 and Table 6 respectively.
Germination percentage and root length
In the both variety MP 3382 and RVW 4106, SA significantly reduced but HA significantly increased the germination percentage and root length as compared to control as shown in Table 6.
Ibukun et al., (2019) have also reported these results. The mutagen HA acted in a reverse trend with that of HA. The increase may be due to high rate of mitotic cell division and hence increased embryonic growth.
Shoot length (cm)
In the variety MP 3382, the effect of mutagen SA on shoot length of M1 generation revealed that control recorded maximum shoot length 9.70 cm. After the treatment there was significantly decreased in shoot length up to 3.70 cm (T6) with increasing dose of mutagen. For HA, the data revealed that T9 recorded maximum shoot length 11.20 cm followed by T8 (10.40 cm) and shortest shoot length was found in T11 (9.52 cm).
In the variety RVW 4106 both the mutagens act in similar way as they were performed in variety MP 3382 for the character shoot length. The mean shoot length for the mutagens SA and HA was recorded to be 6.10 cm and 10.12 cm respectively for the variety MP 3382.
Seed vigour index (SVI)
The effect of SA on seed vigour index of M1 generation revealed that SA significantly decreased the SVI for both of the varieties The mutagen HA showed maximum SVI in concentration 0.4 per cent HA followed by 0.3 per cent HA and 0.2 percent HA for both of the varieties.
The results of root length, shoot length and seed vigor index showed a pattern of growth for the mutagen SA
i.e., with increase in dose there was adverse effect on growth on wheat in laboratory conditions. Mutagen HA enhanced seedling growth and SVI. This may be due to Gushing of water inside the cell (cell elongation) or increased somatic cell division due to higher rate of respiration.
Sharma et al., (2015) also recorded this similar pattern of observation.
Days to 50 per cent flowering and Days to maturity
In the variety MP 3382, the effect of SA and HA on the days to 50 percent flowering in M1 generation revealed that there is early emergence for control (70 days) as compare to all the treatments. Mutagen SA and HA delayed the days to 50 per cent flowering by five and ten respectively. In the variety RVW 4106, control (68 days) recorded early emergence for all the treatments. The mean days to 50 percent flowering for SA and HA was 73.20 and 76.60 days respectively for the variety MP 3382.
For the variety MP 3382
, both the mutagens delayed the days to maturity. For the variety RVW 4106, both the mutagens delayed the days to maturity. Control recorded the earliest maturity (118 days).
This delay might be due to profuse and persistent vegetative growth which might have consume more time for mitotic arrest in flowering primordial or this character might be primarily controlled by the major genes whose expressions would have affected either by modifies or complementation and hence delayed the days to 50 percent flowering.
Odeje et al., (2016), have reported similar results.
Plant height (cm)
In the variety MP 3382, both the mutagen decreased plant height but SA decreased more height as compared to HA. SA decreased height up to T3 (82.50 cm) then increased in T4 (88.30 cm) but less than control (97.50 cm) then afterwards decreased with increased dose of mutagen. In the variety RVW 4106, data revealed that plant height decreased significantly with increased dose of both mutagens.
The result here may be due to chemical mutagens disrupting cell division within the meristematic tissues responsible for regulating plant height. Mutations have the potential to hinder proper cell division and growth in these regions. These findings were in conformity of
Weldemichael et al. (2021) and
Omeke et al. (2021).
Number of tillers per plant and flag leaf length (cm)
In the variety MP 3382, the mutagen SA significantly reduced the tillers number up to 5 in T6 as compared to control (8). Mutagen HA, revealed the increase in tillers number and maximum was found in T9 (10). In the variety RVW 4106
, same trend was observed for both the mutagens.
In the variety MP 3382, the data for flag leaf length revealed that mutant SA significantly increased the length as compared to control (20.32 cm). Mutagen HA reduced the length up to the concentration 0.3 per cent (14.75 cm) compared to control (20.32 cm). After that length was increased to 26.96 in T9, followed by T11 (25.87 cm).
In the variety RVW 4106, mutagen SA data revealed that length was more up to the concentration 0.04 percent (26.32 cm) compared to the control (24.05 cm). Maximum length was observed at concentration 0.03 per cent (28.82 cm). After 0.04 per cent SA, length was reduced and less than control.
Flag leaf width (cm)
In the variety MP 3382
, data revealed that mutagen SA increased the width compared to control (1.42 cm) except in T2 (1.26 cm). Mutagen HA increased the width in all the treatments except in T8 (1.35 cm) compared to control. In the variety RVW 4106
, mutagen SA followed the same trend in this variety as followed in MP- 3382. Mutagen SA and higher doses of HA tends to increases the flag leaf area 0.03 per cent SA and 0.4 per cent.
HA is the most effective dose observed for both of the varieties for increasing flag leaf area due to proper adaptability of the variety to the respective mutagenic treatments compared to other treatments. Abaza
et al. (2020), reported this similar observation of increase in flag leaf area by chemical mutagens at particular concentrations.
Spike length (cm) and Spike lets per spike
In the variety MP 3382, both the mutagens had significant effect on spike length (Plate 1). Mutagen SA and HA reduced the spike length compared to control except in two treatments where length was more than control (Plate 2). In the variety RVW 4106
, both the mutagens decreased the spike length. At 0.5 per cent HA, longest spike length and highest spike lets per spike was observed in variety MP-3382.
For the variety MP 3382, control contains 50.00 spike lets. Among all the treatments, maximum number of spikes were found i.e. 57.00 and 52.00 in T10 and T8 respectively and lowest was found in T3 (36.00). In the variety RVW 4106 maximum number of spikes were found in control (52.00) followed by T15 (48.00), T19 (47.00) and lowest was found in T22 (39.00) among all the treatments.
This may be due to proper adaptability of the variety to that particular treatment or due to physiological alteration by hydroxylamine or enhanced enzymatic activities.
Abaza et al., (2020) also observed increased spike morphology by chemical mutagen in bread wheat and
Rahman et al., (2021) in bread wheat.
Grain yield per plant (g)
For the variety MP 3382
, after treated with SA, maximum yield was recorded in control (19.94 g) among all the treatments. Mutagen HA increased the yield compared to control. Maximum yield was found in T10 (28.71 g) followed by T8 (20.78 g), T9 (19.97 g) and least was found in T7 (19.47 g).
In the variety RVW 4106
, mutagen SA significantly decreased the yield per plant. Mutagen HA also reduced the yield but less than sodium SA. Here also control recorded the maximum yield followed by T21 (21.73), T18 (21.37) and least yield found in T22 (14.33).
Increase in grain yield with HA in MP 3382 may be due to mutagen HA could promote seed production.
Sharma et al., (2015), have reported a similar trend after treatment by chemical mutagen in wheat and Dahiru
et al. (2021) in maize. Wheat varieties exhibit differential sensitivity to mutagens like HA, potentially influenced by variations in DNA repair mechanisms or the presence of genes that mitigate mutagenic effects
(Chatterjee et al., 2017).
Test weight (g)
For the variety MP 3382
, data displayed that both mutagen SA and HA significantly reduced the test weight as compared to control. However, for the variety RVW 4106, data revealed that mutagen SA reduced the test weight in all the treatments compared to control (45.03 g) except in T17 (48.82 g). Mutagen HA data revealed that maximum test weight was present in T18 (48.40 g) and least weight was found in T19 (31.98 g).
Generally, both mutagens reduced the test weight except 0.5% HA in MP-3382 and 0.1% SA and 0.2% HA in RVW-4106 where test weight was observed to be increased. Data revealed that generally all the doses adversely affected test weight. Present study was contradicted with the findings of
Aggarwal et al., (2022).
M2 generation
Total 86 mutants were isolated in the central focus of this mutation analysis, with their characterization based on morphological plant type. Notably, the mutagenic agents Sodium Azide (SA) and Hydroxyl Amine (HA) yielded a substantial number of mutants. The frequency of mutants displaying desirable and variable morphological traits is presented in Table 7.
Germination percent
The dose of SA with concentration of (0.1%) was found to be most effective in the variety MP-3382 and RVW-4106 on contrary to the control. The M1 and M2 generation was observed with significant reduction in germination percentage
i.e., (85) and (87) respectively for MP-3382 and (83) and (85) for RVW-4106 respectively. The drastic reduction in the germination with increase in the concentration of sodium azide may be due to the induction of chromosomal structure abnormalities in the genes of vitality. This result is in synchronization with
Abu et al., (2020) and Ibukun
et al. (2019).
The dose of HA with concentration of (0.4%) was found to be most effective in the variety RVW- 4106 on contrary to the control (92). The M1 & M2 generation was investigated with significant induction in germination percentage
i.e. (95) and (94) respectively for RVW-4106. This increase may be due to high rate of mitotic cell division and hence increased embryonic growth.
Sharma et al., (2015) also recorded the similar pattern of observation.
Plant height (cm)
Significant variation in plant height, the control of both the varieties MP-3382 and RVW-4106 displayed the values (97.50) and (103.00) respectively. M1 and M2 data revealed that SA with concentration 0.03% (82.50 and 84.50) respectively and 0.5% HA (88.30 and 90.00) respectively in the variety MP-3382 and 0.1 % SA (82.80 and 84.00) respectively in the variety RVW-4106 was found to be most effective dose. There is significant reduction in plant height at these particular doses. These finding were in conformity of
Sharma et al. (2015) in wheat and
Weldemichael et al. (2021).
Days to 50% flowering
An increase in delayed in days to 50 percent flowering was evident in the variety MP-3382 in both M1 and M2 generation at 0.05 per cent SA as compared to control (70 days). Due to presence of suspected chromosomal aberrations, a delay in flowering was investigated.
Abu et al., (2020) and
Dahiru et al., (2021) also reported similar results in maize.
Spike length (cm)
The variety MP-3382 was most responsive toward the HA with concentration 0.5 per cent for spike length. An increased in spike length was observed in M1 and M2 generation that is 12.60 cm and 12.20 cm respectively as compared to control (11.50 cm). This change may be due to cell enlargement by gushing of water inside cell or tissue differentiation after treated with mutagen hydroxyl amine.
Abaza et al., (2020) and Rahman
et al. (2021) also obtained the similar results after treatment with chemical mutagen in bread wheat.
Flag leaf area (cm2)
The most effective dose for both the varieties was found to be 0.03 percent SA and 0.4 per cent HA. The variety MP-3382 displayed the values for M1 and M2 generation are 51.40 cm
2 and 48.00 cm
2 respectively. Whereas, the variety RVW- 4106 displayed the values for M1 and M2 generation are 54.10 cm
2 and 52.60 cm
2 respectively at 0.03 percent SA and 53.49 cm
2. This similar observations of increase in flag leaf area by chemical mutagens at particular concentrations was reported by
Odeje et al., (2016), Abaza et al., (2020) in bread wheat.