Frequency and Spectrum of Chlorophyll Mutation in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

A comparison of the effect of gamma-rays ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and their combination for induced mutagenesis in two chilli varieties Kashi Anmol (KA-2) and VR-338 (Kashi Gaurav). 1000 chilli seeds each were irradiated with 10,15, 20, and 25 kR doses of gamma-rays treated, with 0.02, 0.03 0.04 and 0.05 M concentration of ethyl methane sulfonate and another 1000 seeds used for combination treatments were treated with all doses of gamma-rays followed by 0.03M EMS. The M1 generation was raised in protected nursery at Horticulture Research Farm, BHU, Varanasi during July 2011. Chlorophyll mutations were used to evaluate the mutagenic effeciency of various mutagens. The spectrum of chlorophyll mutants Albino, Chlorina, Viridis Xantha and Dark Xantha were most frequently observed in M₂ generation. Gamma rays induced higher proportions of chlorophyll mutants than EMS and their combination. However, frequencies of viable chlorophyll mutants were observed in higher EMS and gamma-rays treatments than with their combination. Treatment with 15 kR gamma-rays was more effective in inducing chlorophyll mutations with highest frequency. Mutagenic effect generally increased with increasing dose of and gamma-rays EMS and their combination.