Desirable Macromutants Induced by Chemical Mutagens in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Eleven desirable macromutants namely, viridis (seedling colour as marker, increased seed protein content), broad leaf (high capsule number/plant), thick leaf and diffused branching (enhanced number of capsules with high amount of seed protein and fatty oil contents), early flowering (synchronous maturity, enhanced fatty oil content), white flower (marker trait), globular fruit (enhanced seeds/capsule with high oil content in seed), non-shattering capsule (intensed pigmentation on flowers as marker trait apart from the unique trait it possessed for breeders and farmers), dark reddish brown seed-coat I and II (high oil content) and bold seeded (high protein content) have been reported in sesame (Sesamum indicum L. var B-67) which were the outcome of induced chemical mutagenesis. Meiosis in control and mutants was nearly normal (13 bivalents at MI and 13/13 separation of chromosomes at AI mostly) with high pollen fertility (75.15 to 100.0%). All mutant traits were recessive to normal and excepting viridis (digenic) showed monogenic inheritance pattern.