Gamma irradiation effect on germination and quantitative traits in M1 generation of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Three sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes namely GT-10, TKG-22, and Gophya Local were irradiated with gamma rays at doses of 400 Gy, 500 Gy, 600 Gy, and 700 Gy at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai, and grown alongside a control at the experimental farm of the Dept. of Agril. Botany, Dr. PDKV, Akola. The study examined the effects on seed germination percentage and various quantitative traits, such as days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, capsule length, number of seeds per capsule, 1000 seed weight (g), and seed yield per plant. Seed germination decreased progressively with increasing gamma ray doses, with a more pronounced effect observed at higher doses in all three genotypes. The LD50 was determined to be at a 500 Gy dose for GT-10 and TKG-22, and at 600 Gy for Gophya Local. The varieties also displayed differential responses to the mutagen treatment, with GT-10 exhibiting greater sensitivity compared to TKG-22 and Gophya Local. In the M1 generation, all the studied characters were significantly reduced relative to the control, with higher doses causing a more substantial reduction. The results from this study indicate that varying doses of gamma rays can be effectively utilized to induce variability in the crop’s quantitative traits.