Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of salt-tolerant tobacco mutants generated by gamma radiation.

Salinity is one of the major problems limiting the yield of agricultural products. Radiation mutagenesis is used to improve salt-tolerant mutant plants. In this study, we aimed to improve salt-tolerant mutants of two oriental tobacco varieties. One thousand seeds of each variety (M₀) were irradiated with 100, 200, 300, and 400 Gy gamma rays by Cs-137 gamma. In the M₁ generation, 2999 single plants were harvested. The next season, these seeds were bulked and planted to obtain M₂ progeny. The seeds of 1900 M₂ plants were picked separately. Salinity tolerance was tested in the M₃ generation. Among M₃ plantlets, 10 salt-tolerant tobacco mutants were selected. According to the results of the selection studies, 100- and 200-Gy gamma radiation doses were the effective doses to obtain the desired mutants. Glutathione reductase enzyme activities of salt-tolerant tobacco mutants were determined biochemically as a stress-tolerance marker. The differences between control and salt-tolerant mutants belonging to the Akhisar 97 and İzmir Özbaş tobacco varieties were evaluated by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis. The total polymorphism rate was 73.91%.