Induced Morphological and Chromosomal Diversity in the Mutagenized Population of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Using Single and Combination Treatments of Gamma Rays and Ethyl Methane Sulfonate
Authors: Amin, R., Wani, M.R., Raina, A., Khursheed, S. and Khan, S.
Journal: Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Pages: 23-30
eISSN: 2307-7166
ISSN: 1995-6673
Abstract:Induced mutagenesis has successfully been proven as the best viable approach for the genetic improvement of crop species. In the present scenario of high health vulnerability, the global demand for natural medicine derived from plant species has increased tremendously. Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) – an important medicinal plant species of the family Ranunculaceae with immense therapeutic values, was selected for the present study in order to bring genetic improvement using the technique of induced mutagenesis. Dry and healthy seeds of two varieties of black cumin were exposed to different doses of gamma rays and EMS singly and in combination. The observations were recorded on morphological, cytological and physiological parameters in M1and M2generations to evaluate the mutagenic potency and to induce the desirable genetic variability in the crop. A broad spectrum of morphological variations with different frequencies affecting different plant parts and chromosomal aberrations were screened out in both the varieties in M1generation. Cytological abnormalities increased with increasing the doses/concentrations of the mutagen. The results reflect an increase in the mean values for chlorophyll and carotenoid contents at the 0.1 % EMS treatment in both varieties indicating an improved photosynthetic activity in this treatment. The rest of the treatments showed a decreasing trend in relation to the controls with increasing the mutagenic doses/concentrations vis-à-vis chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in both varieties. Observations on quantitative traits including plant height, number of fertile branches, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule and 1000 seed weight (g) showed significant inter-treatment variations at different mutagenic doses. A positive correlation among various yield attributing traits was recorded in M2generation. The findings of the present study are encouraging, and show that significant genetic variability had been induced by the mutagens, thus the rigorous selection of the desirable mutants may result in the development of improved and high yielding mutants of Nigella sativa in subsequent generations.
Source: Scopus