Radiation induced genetic variability in rabi sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

The experiment carried out with objectives to create genetic variability in rabi sorghum through mutation breeding, to study the extent of genetic variability and characterization of selected mutants for yield and quality traits in M2 generation. In view of the above objectives, the sorghum genotype, Nizer Goti used as experimental material that irradiated by gamma rays with doses of 100 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy and 400 Gy. The treated seeds sown to raise M1 generation during rabi season 2019-20. Dominant mutations observed in the M1 generations were noted down and individual plants were harvested. The M2 generation comprising of total eighty selected mutants of four treatments along with control were evaluated in a Compact Family Block Design with three replications. The result revealed that genetic variability was found significant for yield and quality characters in the M2 population. The higher GCV and PCV estimates and their closer magnitude observed for most of the characters under study indicated that the gamma rays act as a powerful tool for induction of heritable variability in sorghum. High GCV, PCV, heritability along with high GAM value were recorded in panicle length, grain yield per plant, iron content, zinc content and stover yield per plant that suggesting greater scope of improving these characters by applying selection in appropriate direction for developing high yielding mutants from the segregating population.