Recurrent irradiation a tool for creation of genetic variability in land races of wheat (T. Aestivum)

Efforts were made to obtain mutants from promising cultivars viz. HD 2189, C-306, Hindi 62, Ajantha, HD 2380, N59, PBND 630 and HI 977 by exposure to gamma doses of 20, 30, 40 and 50 kR. Low variability was observed in the initial generations. A local good chapati quality tall, rainfed wheat from Wakad was treated with gamma rays. Seeds from M3 generation were reirradiated with 20, 30 or 40 kR gamma rays. A dwarf early plant observed in the resulting population was selfed and also used in crossing with cv. Parbhani 51. High frequency of mutants was observed in the subsequent generations which included reduced height, earliness, altered grain characters, altered reaction to rust and variation for grain protein content and SDS-PAGE profile. Mutants were selected with high sca and gca effects. (author)