Mutagenic effects of gamma rays and electron beam on frequency and spectrum of chlorophyll mutations in urdbean (Vigna mungo L. Hepper)

Black gram is an important pulse crop occupying unique position in Indian agriculture. Among the pulses, it stands fourth in production and acreage. Blackgram contains about 25 per cent protein, 56per cent carbohydrate, 2per cent fat, 4per cent mineral sand 0.4per cent vitamins. In the past, there were attempts to increase the productivity of this crop using conventional breeding approaches at different Agricultural Research Centres. However, the national productivity of black gram is alarmingly remaining around 500 kgha^-1 due to restricted cultivation in the marginal lands. In order to improve yield and other polygenic characters, mutation breeding can be effectively utilized