Abstract
Three mutants isolated according to differed morphological traits were isolated from the M2 progeny of gamma ray-irradiated Solanum melongena L. var. PPL, viz. PPL-j3 (5kR), PPL-k3-1 (15 kR), and PPL-k3-2 (15 kR). The seeds of selected mutants of M2 generation were collected individually and grown in M3 generation, separately and data on various quantitative traits, such as plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruit weight (g), fruit size (cm), 1000-seed weight (g), and yield (kg) per plant, were recorded for all three mutants. The mutants were morphologically quite distinct, as compared to the control and to each other. The average performance of different quantitative traits was better in a high yielding mutant (PPL-j3) as compared to the control, while in other two mutants (PPL-k3-1 and PPL-k3-2), poor yield was observed. Cytological analysis revealed almost normal chromosomal set in mutant screened from 5 kR irradiated population, except for a few chromosomal aberrations. The higher frequency of meiotic aberrations was recorded in mutants isolated from 15 kR irradiated population. However, the frequency of these chromosomal irregularities decreased at anaphase, exhibiting recovery at later stages. A reduction in pollen fertility was also recorded in mutants isolated from 15 kR, indicating low fruit set.
