**2.4 Plant habit mutations**

Tall and gigas mutants obtained in the present investigation showed vigorous growth (Plate-2). According to Weber and Gottschalk (1973) and Blonstein and Gale (1984) the

Induction of Genetic Variability

**Plant habit mutants**

with Gamma Radiation and Its Applications in Improvement of Horsegram 211

100, 200 & 300Gy, and various combination

100 and 300Gy and various combination

All GR treatments and

All GR treatments and

treatments.

treatments.

combinations.

combination treatments.

Combination treatments

200Gy and combination treatments.

treatments.

100 and 300Gy and combination treatments.

GR and combination

100Gy + 0.2%EMS, 300Gy + 0.5%EMS.

200Gy (0.23%) and combination treatments

Combination treatments

GR and 400Gy + 0.4%EMS.

 GR and various combination treatments.

Combination treatments.

**Mutants Characters Treatments** 

larger, thick, close pinnae and thick profuse branching at the base. Pods were large containing bold seeds.

and had profuse branching at the base which formed a

and compact branches. The branching was more at the base, giving rise to dense, interwoven secondary branches, which ultimately made the mutant compact.

which remained very close to each other forming a bunch. The canopy of secondary branches and leaves

branched or unbranched with very few leaflets. The distal portion of stem was tendrilar and had twining

leaflets with very prominent midrib, thick and semi

thick pinnae, profuse branching. Pods were large with

leaflets and light green colour with profuse branching

The leaflets were wedge shaped with shorter leaf lamina, curling towards centre. The plants were erect

**Gigas** These mutants were vigorous, upright and tall with

**Tall** These mutants were vigorous, tall, with medium and thick leaves, normal flowers and pods.

**Dwarf** Plant height of these mutants ranged from 15 to 20cm

**Compact** These mutants were characterized with dwarf, profuse

**Bouquet** These mutants had profuse branching at the base,

together gave an appearance of bouquet.

**Erect** The mutant was erect and tall with shy branching and

**Tendrilar** These types of mutants were very weak, slender,

**Spreading** These mutants were creeping on the ground with terminal branches (30 to 60 cm length).

erect stem and sparse branching.

large, thick, close pinnae.

with pale green foliage

**Super gigas** These mutants had extremely large, thick, dark green

**Gigas** These mutants were vigorous, upright tall with large

**Broad** These mutants were vigorous, upright, dwarf with

**Small** These mutants were associated with dwarfness, small

**Curly** This mutant had curly leaflets with elongated petiole.

**Long** These mutants were dwarf having narrow and very

dense umbrella like canopy.

light green pinnae.

tendency.

bold seeds.

at the base.

long leaflets.

**Leaf mutants**


Table 1. Effect of gamma radiation on frequency and spectrum of viable mutations in M2 generation of horsegram cv. Dapoli Kulthi-1.

Gigas 2.00 0.13±0.01 5.00 0.29±0.02 2.00 0.12±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 Tall 2.00 0.13±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 3.00 0.18±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 Dwarf 2.00 0.13±0.01 2.00 0.12±0.01 1.00 0.06±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 Compact 2.00 0.13±0.01 1.00 0.06±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.01 1.00 0.06±0.00 Bouquet 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Erect 2.00 0.13±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Tendrilar 0.00 0.00±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Spreading 2.00 0.13±0.01 2.00 0.12±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.00 Total 12.00 0.77±0.04 12.00 0.70±0.04 10.00 0.60±0.03 4.00 0.25±0.01

Gigas 2.00 0.13±0.01 4.00 0.23±0.01 2.00 0.12±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 Broad 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Narrow 0.00 0.00±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Small 2.00 0.13±0.01 1.00 0.06±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 Stalked 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00

pinnae 2.00 0.13±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Curly 1.00 0.06±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.01 3.00 0.18±0.01 Long 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Total 8.00 0.51±0.02 8.00 0.47±0.01 11.00 0.66±0.02 4.00 0.25±0.01

Early 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Late 4.68 0.30±0.02 3.42 0.20±0.01 1.68 0.10±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 Total 4.68 0.30±0.02 3.42 0.20±0.01 2.68 0.16±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00

Gigas 2.00 0.13±0.01 4.00 0.23±0.01 2.00 0.12±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Long 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 Broad 1.00 0.06±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 1.00 0.06±0.00 Narrow 3.00 0.19±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 Small 2.00 0.13±0.01 2.00 0.12±0.01 2.00 0.12±0.01 1.00 0.06±0.00 Total 9.00 0.58±0.02 6.00 0.35±0.01 8.00 0.48±0.01 2.00 0.12±0.00

**yielding** 0.00 0.00±0.00 0.00 0.00±0.00 2.00 0.12±0.01 0.00 0.00±0.00 Total freq. 2.16±0.10 1.72±0.09 1.99±0.09 0.61±0.03

Table 1. Effect of gamma radiation on frequency and spectrum of viable mutations in

M2 generation of horsegram cv. Dapoli Kulthi-1.

100 200 300 400

1560 1710 1675 1632 No. % No. % No. % No. %

**Mutants Gamma rays (Gy)**

Total plants studied

**Plant habit**

**Leaf**

Close

**Maturity**

**Pod**

**High** 


Induction of Genetic Variability

Plate 1. M2 generation in field

with Gamma Radiation and Its Applications in Improvement of Horsegram 213


Table 2. Viable mutants and their characteristic features

increase in plant height was due to the changes in the internodal length and increase in cell number and cell length or both.
