Abstract
A busyy mutant with desynaptic behaviour of chromosomes has been recovered from the M2 population of Nigella sativa L. (black cummin) following 2 hours treatment with 0.5% EMS. A single pair of recessive genes (bu/bu) has been ascribed for bushyness and the mutant bred true in the subsequent generations. The bushy mutant plant could always be characterized by their delayed germination, flowering and maturity, high frequency of sterile pollen, poor seed setting and desynaptic behaviour of chromosomes. Possibly, the mutant gene has shown pleiotropic effect or the traits were closely linked with the bushy phenotype.
