Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of sodium azide in rice varieties

Abstract

This study was taken up to assess the chlorophyll spectrum induced by Sodium Azide mutagen in two rice cultivars-BPT 2231 and CO 51. The mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of Sodium Azide across the two genotypes were also observed. The chlorophyll spectrum observed in M 2 generation of BPT 2231 is consisted of albino, xantha, chlorina, striata and xantha viridis. In CO 51, albino and xantha occupied the entire chlorophyll spectrum. Albino was predominant in both the varieties with 1.2 per cent in BPT 2231 and 1.15 per cent in CO 51 at 1mM concentration. The mutagenic frequency was higher in BPT 2231 (7.8) than CO 51 (4.0). Considering the efficiency of a mutagen based on lethality, seedling injury and pollen sterility, BPT 2231 recorded higher values 2.79, 1.10 and 0.26 respectively. Like mutagenic frequency, the mutation rate of Sodium Azide was higher in BPT 2231(0.90) than CO 51 (0.40).