Abstract
The present study revealed the chromosomal behavior of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. following treatments with gamma (γ) rays, ethyl methyl sulphonate (EMS) and Sodium azide (SA). The treated populations exhibited various meiotic abnormalities such as stickiness, univalents, precocious segregation, laggards, bridges, cytomixis and so on. The frequency of meiotic aberrations increased with the increase in dose/conc. of the mutagens. Maximum frequency of meiotic aberrations was recorded at 400Gy (15.12%) followed by 0.4% EMS (13.04%) and 0.4% SA (10.50%). In general γ-rays induced greater percentage of chromosomal aberrations followed by EMS and SA (γ-rays ⟨ EMS ⟨ SA). Pollen sterility also increased with the increase in mutagenic treatment, maximum sterility being observed at 0.4% EMS (58.01%). The order of effectiveness for pollen sterility was EMS ⟨ γ-rays ⟨ SA. The lower dose/conc. of all these mutagens could be ideal for induction of micro-mutations and enhancement of genetic base in the crop species under consideration.
