Chemical mutagenesis in head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.), II: Effect of ethyl methane sulphonate on photosynthetic apparatus efficiency

Abstract

Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence parameters F0, Fm, Fv and their ratios and the plastid pigments content were used to characterize physiological response of head cabbage plants, cv. Ditmarsko, to treatments with chemical mutagen ethyl methane sulphonate. (EMS). For this purpose the seeds were treated with EMS in concentration 0,5%, 0,6% and 0,7%. The produced plants from M t generation at economic and generative phases were used for the study. A certain stimulating effect of EMS on photosynthetic apparatus efficiency was found. It was more visible during the generative phase of the plants compared to the economic one. The total amount of synthesized plastid pigments in the M j generation plants from the treated variants exceeded the controlled plants by 22-46%. The values of the Chl fluorescence parameters indicated same or better physiological status of the plants in the EMS-variants in comparison with the controlled ones. No proportional dependence between the studied parameters and the used EMS concentrations was obtained.

Keywords

• head cabbage
• ethyl methane sulphonate
• photosynthesis
• pigments
• chloro­phyll fluorescence