Enhanced Variability Due to Shifts in Mean Created through Induced Mutation, Hybridization and its Combination in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

An experiment to study the effectiveness of -rays and ethyl methane sulphonate induced mutagenesis in bringing about shift in mean and creation of genetic variability for pod yield and its attributes in two varieties of groundnut viz., GPBD-4 and CTMG-1 and their _F2 and F₂M₂ generations was carried out during 2006-08, at Agricultural Research Station, Chintamani, UAS (B). The LD₅₀ dose was fixed at 20 kR for gamma ray irradiation and at 0.5 per cent for ethyl methane sulphonatee (EMS). The two varieties exhibited differential response to different mutagens. In general, the overall shifts in the mean of F₂M₂ population was maximum in the desirable directions compared to any other populations followed by 20 kR irradiated M₂ population of CTMG-1. The F₂M₂ population manifested maximum heritability (96.44%) and genetic advance as per cent of mean (76.24%) and among the mutagen treated M₂ populations, maximum heritability (81.35 %) and genetic advance as per cent of mean (41.50%) was recorded in 20 kR irradiated populations of GPBD-4 for pod yield (g/plant). The mutagenic treatment with 20 kR irradiated and 0.5 per cent EMS treated GPBD-4 and CTMG-1 populations and F₂M₂ population have resulted in creation of higher genetic variations and hence serve as an excellent source material for variety development representing a more efficient source of genetic variability than gene pools conserved by nature.