Induced Mutations in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) CV. ‘Kharchia 65’ for Reduced Plant Height and Improve Grain Quality Traits

Through mutagenesis with gamma rays, mutants characterized by reduced plant height, square head, awnless ear, amber seed colour, bold seeds and storage capacities were induced in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L) cv. Kharchia 65. The were isolated in M generation; derived from 10, 20, 30 and 40 kR of gamma 2 rays treated M population. In the M generation, some, progenies with morphological mutants were recovered. 1 3 The pattern of segregation was found to be controlled by monogenic recessive control of mutant phenotypes and showed a good fit for 3 normal:1 mutant and 1 normal:2 segregating:1 mutant between and within the progenies respectively. Out of the thirteen reduced plant height homozygous mutant progenies, only three progenies namely 398, 446-7 and 621 showed superiority over control population for several traits. For instance, these progenies had significantly higher mean values for number of tillers per plant and number of spikelets per spike (progeny no. 398), biological yield, number of tillers per plant and number of spikelets per spike (progeny no. 446-7) and harvest index (progeny no. 621) compared to the control cv. Kharchia 65. Therefore, it is these three mutant progenies may prove useful for yield improvement in wheat breeding programme. The amber seed colour, bold and plumb seed producing M mutant progenies namely 351, 446-1, 498 and 632 stored in plastic 3 box for seven years but they not showed significantly high storage capacity against to cereal weevil compared to the control cv. Kharchia 65. Kew words: Mutation wheat Kharchia 65 Plant height Grain quality INTRODUCTION and durum wheat only 12% of total area under wheat The use of physical mutagens, like X-rays, gamma quicker method for improvement of crops [4]. Hundreds of rays and neutrons and chemical mutagens for inducing useful mutants have been induced for various plant variation, is well established. Induced mutations have characters in variety of crops including wheat through been used to the Joint afford of FAO/IAEA Division of treatment with physical and chemical mutagens [5-9]. In the Nuclear Techniques in Agriculture, more than 1800 this experiment, the effect of gamma rays to induced cultivars obtained either as direct mutants or derived different types of morphological mutants 10]. The reduced from their crosses have been released worldwide in 50 plant height, square head, awnless ear, amber seed colour, countries [1]. These induced mutation help to develop of bold seeds in M generation were recovered and these many agronomical important traits such as shorter morphological mutants were storage at normal conditions growing period, suitable for rotation, increased tolerance in years year (1998 to 2006) for the study storage ability. or resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses use in major crops such as wheat, rice, barley, cotton, peanuts and MATERIALS AND METHODS beans [1, 2]. Wheat is one of the most important food crop of the An old tall cultivar of bread wheat (Triticum world. In India it is the second major food crop next to aestivum L.) cv. ‘Kharchia 65’ was used in this study. rice. The bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) account 86% The seed material was initially procured from Directed of cultivation in India [3]. Mutation breeding is relatively a