Induction of mutations for plant height and inheritance of dwarf mutant in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) through gamma ray irradiation

Abstract

Gamma ray induced mutagenesis of groundnut cultitvar TAG 24 evolved true breeding several mutantsaffecting various morphological traits. Among them, 16 mutants were dwarf and three were tall. Plant heightwas reduced by 24.5% to 41.0% in dwarf mutants and increased by 13.1 to 30.6% in tall mutants. Progeniesfrom an interesting dwarf mutant consistently segregated into dwarf, extreme dwarf and parental types. From thehybridization between mutant and its parent, it was concluded that dwarf mutation was due to monogenicincomplete dominance.

Keywords

• Groundnut
• Gamma rays
• Dwarf mutant
• Tall mutant
• Incomplete dominance