ASSESSMENT OF SEED GERMINATION IN BLACKGRAM (VIGNA MUNGO L. HEPPER) UNDER EMS INDUCED MUTAGENESIS

The present investigation was carried out to estimate the mutagenic sensitivity of blackgram accession IC 436524 with EMS (Ethyl methane sulfonate). The seeds of IC436524 were treated with four different concentrations of EMS viz., 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%. Thirty seeds of each concentration were placed in Petri plates in three replication along with untreated seeds for germination test, shoot length(cm) and root length(cm). The germination was observed on the 5th day after treatment while shoot and root length of seedling was recorded on the 10 day. The results showed that the germination% was recorded highest (86.67%) at 0.2% of EMS followed by (80.00%) at 0.3% of EMS and lowest seed germination% was recorded at 0.4 and 0.5% of EMS. The reduction percentage of seed germination with control (untreated seeds) at 0.2% of EMS was 6.66% followed by 13.33% at 0.3% of EMS, 53.33% at 0.4% of EMS and 80% at 0.5% of EMS respectively. The results also showed that the highest shoot and root length (cm) was recorded at 0.2% of EMS (8.60cm and 5.50cm) followed by at 0.3% of EMS (6.50cm and 3.83cm). Thus 0.4 and 0.5% dose of EMS seemed very effective in reducing percent seed germination in black gram. The results excerted that the blackgram accession IC436524 could be germinated up to 0.3% EMS concentration to create variability in blackgram which are further useful for crop improvement programs.