Journal of Environmental Biology

Gamma rays induced morphological, flowering and palynological modifications in horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum)

S. Priyanka¹, R. Sudhagar²*, C. Vanniarajan³, K. Ganesamurthy⁴ and J. Souframanien⁵ 

¹Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, India

²Sugarcane Research Station, Melalathur, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Vellore - 635 806, India

³Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai - 625 104, India

⁴Department of Rice, CPBG, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, India

⁵Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division (NA&BTD), BARC, Mumbai - 400 085, India

*Corresponding Author Email : sudhagar.r@tnau.ac.in

Received: 24.09.2020                                                                        Revised: 05.03.2021                                                Accepted: 04.5.2021

Abstract

Aim: The quest was framed to analyse the effect of high dose of gamma rays on morphological, flowering, and palynological traits in horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum).

Methodology: Two horse gram varieties PAIYUR 2 and CRIDA 1-18 R were mutated using 32 mutagenic combinations. Sterile plants produced by gamma rays: 400 Gy were utilized to study the alterations in morphological, flowering characters in 20 randomly selected plants, and palynological traits using scanning electron microscope.

Results: Gamma rays (GR):400 Gy produced sterile plants with altered ideotype and reproductive traits. It reduced expression of yield attributing traits, delayed first flowering, modified anther, and pollen size. The palynological changes included genotype dependant variation in pili number, size and exine ornamentation.      

Interpretation: High gamma ray dose is lethal to horse gram which was evidenced through grave modifications in morphological and palynological traits. These alterations resulted in sterility. Sterile plants tried to repair the irradiation induced damages and hence failed to perform routine reproductive functions.

Key words: Gamma rays, Horse gram, Mutagenesis, Palynological traits, Sterility

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