Phenotypic and genetic variability induced in Lehmann's love grass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) through gamma irradiation

This study assessed the morphological and nutritional diversity induced through gamma irradiation in Lehmann's love grass. Seed were irradiated at doses of 0, 100, 200, 300, 450, 600, 900, and 1400 Gy. Ten agronomic traits related with forage quality were evaluated and used to select the mutants, which were confirmed by cluster analysis and multivariate analysis of variance and then characterized by nutritional and molecular characterization. Mutants with 16-20% less (p<0.05) lignin and 36-68% more protein content than the control genotype were found. Genetic distances of 0.38 and 0.49 also revealed differences (p<0.05) between the mutants and control genotype. The phenotypic and genetic variability, induced through gamma irradiation, resulted in the identification of two first generation mutants with outstanding agronomic traits and nutritional quality.