Mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency are the utmost vital indices to determine the effective and efficient mutagenic concentrations for the generation of high frequency of desirable mutation in mutation breeding. Nevertheless, there are meager study are available for employing effective and efficient concentration of caffeine, EMS, Pb(NO3)2 and Cd(NO3)2 for the crop improvement. Thus, the current study was performed to assess the mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency of caffeine, EMS and heavy metals [Pb(NO3)2 Cd(NO3)2] and to determine the genetic variability of M2 and M3 lentil mutant lines. The frequency of different chlorophyll and chromophyll mutation was found highest at moderate and higher concentrations of chemical mutagens and heavy metals in M1 and M2 generation. The highest effectiveness was in 20 ppm Cd(NO3)2, followed by 20 ppm Pb(NO3)2, 0.10% EMS, and 0.10% caffeine. The present investigation also showed lower doses of caffeine, EMS, Pb(NO3)2, and Cd(NO3)2 were more efficient than higher concentrations, and caffeine was found more efficient followed by EMS, Pb(NO3)2, and Cd(NO3)2. Furthermore, a broad spectrum of viable mutations affecting different morphological characters of the plants viz., leaves, plant height, growth habits, flowers, pods, and seeds in M2 and M3 generation were recorded. Ten morphological mutants showing acceptable agronomic and horticultural features were identified, as genetic resources for further breeding.
Keywords: Chlorophyll mutants; Efficiency; Lens culinaris; Morphological mutants; Mutagenic effectiveness.
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