Mutation Breeding in Maize (Zea mays L.) by Using Different Doses of Gamma Irradiation

Abstract

This experiments of this Research were conducted to study effect of the gamma

irradiation doses on four genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) (Var-113, Hudiba-1,

Hudiba-2 mug45). The maize genotypes were subjected to four doses (50, 100,

150 and 200GY) of gamma irradiation including control. One laboratory and

two field experiments were conducted. The laboratory experiment was

conducted to study the germination percentage, shoot, root and shoot to root

ratios of the germinated seedling. The results of the laboratory experiments

revealed that the growth of the four genotypes was decreased with increasing of

gamma irradiation doses. The field experiments were conducted at two

locations Shambat, College of Agricultural Research studies and Madeni, the

experimental farm of Agricultural Research Corporation. During the summer

season of 2014, the design of the experiment was a Randomized Complete

Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. All the maize treated seeds with

gamma irradiation were used in the field experiments. Different growth and

yield characters were measured. The results revealed the failure of germination

of all treated seed of the four genotypes except (zero and 50GY) doses.

Significant results were obtained between the two doses (zero and 50GY), the

genotypes and their interaction for most of the studied characters. This

significance could be of a great value in any maize breeding program. The

results of this study revealed that the availability of using gamma irradiation in

any maize breeding program in the future.