Optimizing Sodium Azide (NaN₃) Mutagenesis for Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) Improvement

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), an anciently cultivated plant of the Apiaceae family, holds significance for its aromatic seeds widely used in culinary practices globally. Despite its culinary and medicinal value, cumin faces challenges in cultivation due to diseases, pests, and weed infestations, with Alternaria leaf blight and Fusarium wilt being notable threats. Mutation breeding, a favored technique among breeders, introduces genetic variation through chemical mutagens like sodium azide, enabling the development of cumin varieties resistant to herbicides and diseases while ensuring high yields. This study aims to optimize sodium azide application as a chemical mutagen to enhance cumin breeding programs, emphasizing the importance of dosage and treatment duration in achieving desired mutation efficiency. The experimental results demonstrate significant impacts of sodium azide on germination parameters, with an optimal treatment duration of 3 hours for 3 mM sodium azide. Further research is needed to determine the effects of other variables on mutagen action, as well as M1 plant survival and reproduction.