THE POTENTIAL OF SODIUM AZIDE IN THE CREATION OF STABLE VARIATIONS AMONG M3 MUTANTS OF GROUNDNUT (ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.)

The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sodium azide as a mutagen in inducing mutations and enhancing genetic variability in groundnut varieties.Four varieties were subjected to different doses of sodium azide, with observations highlighting varying effects on different traits.Notably, Kadiri-6 exhibited the most favourable response to the mutagen at a 0.10% dose, demonstrating improved yield and several key traits compared to the control.The results indicated a dose-dependent effect of sodium azide on different characteristics, with some traits showing increased expression while others decreased with higher doses.High heritability and genetic advance for pod and kernel yield traits suggest a strong genetic control with minimal environmental influence, indicating stability in these characters.Overall, the study underscores the potential of mutagenesis using sodium azide to induce beneficial mutations and enhance genetic variability in groundnut varieties, particularly highlighting the significance of the Kadiri-6 variety at the 0.10% dose for improved yield and essential agronomic traits.