A comparison of mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of NMU and MNG in Sorghum

Abstract

A comparative study of the effectiveness and efficiency of NMU and MNG in relation to the effects in M1 plants and induction of mutations in M2 was made in a cultivated variety ofSorghum. There was a decrease in the values obtained in each of the biological criteria in the M1, namely germination, survival, seedling growth and seed fertility, with an increase in the concentration of NMU and MNG. Of the characters, survival following MNG treatments and seed fertility following NMU treatments showed the maximum reduction. NMU was not only effective in decreasing the mean of various characters in the M1, but also efficient in inducing a high frequency and wide spectrum of chlorophyll mutations in the M2 compared with MNG. Low concentrations were found to be more efficient than higher concentrations of NMU. The treated M2 population showed not only a decrease but also an increase in the mean height of plant and length of ear compared with the untreated control population. NMU caused a greater decrease in the mean of both characters and induced greater variability in the length of ear than did MNG treatment.

Seed viability, germination and seedling growth of canola (Brassica napus L.) as influenced by chemical mutagens

“…In the case of NMU, treatments of seeds with the 9 mM solution for 8 h could be proposed for enhancing the mutagen efficiency. This finding also confirms the earlier results of Ramulu (1972) with sorghum who observed that lower dosages of NMU are more efficient than higher concentrations. Mean comparisons of the effect of sodium azide treatment revealed that 8 h non-soaking seed treatment with 6 mM solution of this mutagen induced 50% reduction in germination percentage compared to that of the control treatment (Table 3).…”

Induced Mutagenesis for the Improvement of Pulse Crops with Special Reference to Mung Bean: A Review Update

“…Reduction in germination in mutagenic treatments has been explained due to delay or inhibition of physiological and biological processes necessary for seed germination, which include enzyme activity (Kurobane et al 1979 ), hormonal imbalances (Chrispeels and Varner 1967 ), and inhibition of mitotic processes (Ananthaswamy et al 1971 ). The greater sensitivity at higher doses of mutagens has been attributed to various factors, such as changes in the metabolic activity of the cells (Natarajan and Shiva Shankar 1965 ), inhibitory effects of the mutagen (Sree Ramulu 1972 ), and disturbances of the balance between promoters and inhibitors of growth regulators (Meherchandani 1975 ).…”