African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12488

Full Length Research Paper

Studies on mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency in Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

Shagufta Bashir, Aijaz A. Wani* and Irshad A. Nawchoo
Cytogenetics and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, 190 006 Srinagar India.  
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 11 April 2013
  •  Published: 01 May 2013

Abstract

A comparative study on effect of different dose/concentration of gamma rays, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and sodium azide (SA) on various biological parameters (seed germination, seedling height, plant survival, pollen fertility and chromosomal aberrations) in M1 generation and spectrum and frequency of macro-mutations (chlorophyll and other morphological mutations) induced in the M2 generation was carried out in fenugreek in the present investigation. Mutagenic effectiveness decreased with the increase in dose/concentration of the mutagen where as the efficiency of mutagens showed variable trend depending on the criteria selected for its calculation. The lower or intermediate treatments of all the mutagens were found more efficient in causing less biological damage and inducing maximum macro-mutations. The order of mutagenic efficiency was EMS > SA > ϒ- rays.

 

Key words: Fenugreek, biological damage, morphological mutations, gamma rays, EMS, SA.

Abbreviation

Mf/Me, Mutation rate based on meiotic aberrations; Mf/L, lethality;Mf/I, injury; Mf/S, sterility.