INDUCED GENETIC VARIABILITY FOR QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERS IN GRASSPEA (IATHYRUS SATIVUS L.)

Abstract

Mutagenic treatments generated substantial magnitude of genetic variability for economic characters in M2 and M3 generations. Grain yield per plant followed by number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and plant height showed significant increased variability in both the generations. For days to flowering, days to maturity, number of primary branches, pod length and number of seeds. per pod reduction in variability from M2 to M3 was observed. There was no consistancy in the behaviour of means for different characters. Mean and range for days to flowering and maturity shifted towards lateness from M2 to M3 in comparison to control indicating selection for this trait would be less effective in advanced generations, Significant differences between M3 families led to the identification of several desirable families for different economic characters including yield. The negative association between number of seeds per pod and seed size was broken in 35 and 40 kR gamma irradiated population and was retained in M3 also, such association has helped for simultaneous improvement of both the traits.