**2.18 Harvest index**

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

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.

Induction of Genetic Variability

inconformity with present study.

**Plant height (cm)** 

assessed by Fisher's LSD as a post-hoc test.

**2.19 Mutants in M3**

improvement.

**Mutants** 

Broad

High

**2.21 Tall** 

the performance and yield efficiency of the genotypes.

**2.20 Morphological and yield attributes of M3 mutants** 

**Pri. br./ plant** 

**DAS for 1st flowering**

with Gamma Radiation and Its Applications in Improvement of Horsegram 221

The relationship of biological yield with economic yield or grain yield may help to prodict

Mean values for seed yield per plant**,** biological yield and harvest index were positively or negatively influenced in all mutants as compared to controls (Fig-1). Maximum seed and biological yield was recorded in tall, high yielding, late and long pod mutants over control. The highest seed yield (18.29g) and biological yield (52.40g) in high yielding mutant and harvest index (44.72%) in broad pod mutant was recorded. In present investigation the rate of dry matter production in horsegram mutants was significantly correlated with seed yield (Fig-1). Work of Sahane *et al*., (1995) in horsegram was

Desirable mutants such as tall, dwarf, early, late, long and broad pod as well as high yielding were isolated from M2 and M3 generations. More than seven true breeding macromutants (Table-5) were characterized on the basis of morphological and yield attributes, which may be useful for future breeding programme in horsegram yield

> **DAS for 1st pod maturity**

Control 56.70±2.27 6.30±0.25 61.70±2.47 102.20±4.09 71.20±2.85 6.90±0.28 26.80±1.07 14.15±0.57 Tall 71.50±3.58 7.30±0.37 63.60±3.18 105.40±5.27 82.40±4.12 6.40±0.32 27.20±1.36 14.54±0.73 Dwarf 16.30±1.14 4.20±0.29 58.30±4.08 97.70±6.84 47.00±3.29 7.00±0.49 25.80±1.81 9.49±0.66 Early 22.80±1.37 5.40±0.32 30.60±1.84 65.80±3.95 55.00±3.30 6.20±0.37 27.10±1.63 9.64±0.58 Late 60.90±3.65 8.10±0.49 65.40±3.92 110.20±6.61 85.30±5.12 7.20±0.43 28.30±1.70 17.58±1.05 Long pod 59.10±2.36 7.10±0.28 64.30±2.57 106.10±4.24 80.20±3.21 7.30±0.29 26.20±1.05 15.74±0.63

pod 24.60±1.72 6.20±0.43 60.40±4.23 97.50±6.83 33.40±2.34 6.40±0.45 27.80±1.95 6.84±0.48

yielding 59.40±1.78 8.10±0.24 62.80±1.88 109.30±3.28 87.20±2.62 7.20±0.22 28.50±0.86 18.29±0.55 SEM± 1.86 0.27 2.48 4.17 2.67 0.29 1.58 0.52 F-value 267.16 43.22 37.50 20.70 141.32 4.67 1.21 143.49 P-value 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.35 0.00 LSD0.05 3.91 0.57 5.21 8.76 5.61 0.61 3.32 1.09 Data are means of three replicates ± standard deviation. Significant difference due to treatments was

Table 5. Morphological and yield attributes of M3 mutants of horsegram cv. Dapoli Kulthi-1.

These mutants were vigorous, tall (71.50cm), with medium and thick leaves with delayed flowers and pod formation compared to control. There was significant increase in primary

branches, pods, 1000 seed weight and seed yield per plant (Plate- 4).

**No. of pods/ plant** 

**No. of seeds/ pod** 

**1000 seed Wt. (g)** 

**Seed yield/ plant (g)** 

a. M2 Generation

b. M3 generation

Fig. 1. Mutagenic effect on seed yield, biological yield and harvest index

The relationship of biological yield with economic yield or grain yield may help to prodict the performance and yield efficiency of the genotypes.
