Induced Mutagenesis and Variability Study in the M2 Generation of Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Background: Mutation induction in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) aimed to study the induced genetic variability and identify desirable mutants in the M2 generation with two varieties of garden pea, Kashi Nandini and Kashi Uday. Methods: The two varieties of garden peas, Kashi Nandini and Kashi Uday, were subjected to mutagenic treatments with the EMS at 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40%. The M1 generation was raised in RBD with two replications during Rabi 2019-20. Plants from three concentrations, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% EMS, were evaluated in M1 plant progenies (M2) during Rabi 2020-21. The M2 was raised during Rabi 2020-21 in M1 plant progenies using M1 plants from three concentrations -0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% EMS of both varieties. Result: The two varieties that were exposed to EMS responded differently depending on the concentrations. The GCV and PCV were high for seedling height, fertile branches, pods/plant and seeds/pod in both parents at 0.15 and 0.20% EMS. The highest heritability and genetic advance were apparent for seedling height and seeds/pod at 0.10 and 0.20% EMS, while the estimates were moderate for seeds/pod with 0.20% EMS, followed by seeds/pod at 0.10% EMS and seedling height at 0.20% EMS. Desirable plants were visible for various quantitative traits in the M2 generation. These mutants showed significant differences from the controls of both varieties in the treated populations at higher concentrations of EMS. Desirable micro mutants in M2 resulted at 0.15 and 0.20% EMS, which need further evaluation in the M3 for confirmation.