**2.12 Number of days required for first flowering**

GR and GR + EMS treatments have induced the variability in number of days required for first flowering in M2 generation. However some treatments were stimulatory and others were inhibitory for inducing the flowering. The minimum number of days required for first flowering were 50 DAS in 300Gy and 42 DAS in 400Gy + 0.4%EMS.

Induction of Genetic Variability

as compared to control.

**2.16 1000- seed weight** 

**2.17 Seed yield per plant** 

supported the above view.

**2.18 Harvest index** 

horsegram were in agreement with the present study.

**2.15 Total number of seeds per pod** 

with Gamma Radiation and Its Applications in Improvement of Horsegram 219

plant (59.50) were recorded at 200Gy. However all the combination treatments have caused reduction in number of pods per plant. The trend in variation of pod number observed in M3 generation was similar to that of M2 generation (Table-4).The results of Dalvi (1990) for

Data on total number of seeds per pod in M2 and M3 progeny showed non significant change

Results recorded on 1000-seed weight (Table-3) indicated that all the treatments of GR were non significant but the combination treatments such as 300Gy + 0.4%EMS and 300Gy + 0.5%EMS (30.50g and 29.80g) had shown considerable increase in 1000 seed weight over

Mean values for seed yield per plant decreased in treatments of GR and GR + EMS as compared to controls (Table-3). The maximum seed yield (16.76g) was noted in 300Gy and minimum (11.22g) in 200Gy as compared to control (14.54g). The combination treatment 300Gy + 0.5%EMS had induced maximum increase in seed yield per plant (16.01g) over control (14.54g). But all other treatments had caused reduction in seed yield per plant. In M3 generation seed yield per plant was increased in all gamma radiation treatments, but it decreased in combinations as compared to control (Table-4). Maximum total seed yield was recorded in 300Gy (19.60g) and in 200Gy + 0.4%EMS (16.96g) as compared to control (16.58g). Hakande (1992) reported wider variability in yield due to mutagenic treatments in winged bean, which was attributed to pollen sterility and genetical as well as physiological alterations caused by mutagens. Previous studies indicated that both additive and nonadditive genes contribute to yield. Luthra *et al*., (1979), Reddy and Sree Ramulu (1982) also

Mean values for seed yield per plant**,** biological yield and harvest index decreased with few exceptions in all mutagen treated populations as compared to their controls (Fig-1). In gamma radiation maximum seed yield (16.76g) as well as biological yield (41.55g) were recorded in 300Gy. The highest value of harvest index (40.81) was reported in 400Gy. In combination treatments seed yield 16.01g (300Gy + 0.5%EMS), biological yield 37.44g

M3 progeny showed increase in seed yield, decrease in biological yield and increase in harvest index as compare to M2 (Fig-1). Jain (1975) claimed that high value of harvest index and dry matter production contributes to yield. The genotype with ability for converting larger part of dry matter in to economic yield is highly preferable (Donald, 1962). According to Vaghela *et al*., (2009) the biological yield per plant and harvest index were found to be the most valuable traits for formulating the selection criteria to improve seed yield in chickpea.

(300Gy + 0.5%EMS) and harvest index 44.77 (400Gy + 0.5%EMS) were recorded.

control. The results of M3 generation were on par with M2 generation (Table-4).

Dalvi (1990) and Rudraswami *et al*., (2006) also noted similar results in horsegram with different mutagens.

## **2.13 Number of days required for first pod maturity**

The data recorded in (Table-3) indicated that all the treatments of GR and combinations had succeeded in reducing the number of days required for first pod maturity as compared to control. The combination treatments were highly significant. The average minimum number of days (57.70 DAS) required for first pod maturity was noted in 400Gy + 0.4%EMS. The data obtained for M3 generation for this trait was on par with of M2 generation (Table-4). All the treatments of GR + EMS, caused reduction in number of days required for first pod maturity than control. The results of Nawale (2004) supported the above findings.


Table 4. Micromutations in M3 generation of horsegram cv. Dapoli Kulthi-1.

#### **2.14 Number of pods per plant**

The data recorded in (Table-3) revealed that the some of GR and GR + EMS treatments had stimulatory as well as inhibitory effect. In M2 generation maximum number of pods per plant (83.80) were noted in 300Gy than control (71.20). The minimum number of pods per plant (59.50) were recorded at 200Gy. However all the combination treatments have caused reduction in number of pods per plant. The trend in variation of pod number observed in M3 generation was similar to that of M2 generation (Table-4).The results of Dalvi (1990) for horsegram were in agreement with the present study.
