Abstract
Agricultural Research in the D73, Areas (ICARDA), P.O. Bar 5466, Aleppo, Syria. **University of The Punjab, Lahore
Three kabuli chickpea genotypes viz ILC 482, 3279, and 6104, were treated with 40, 50 and 60 kR doses of gamma irradiation; 0,1, and 0.2% EMS to create genetic variability and subsequent selection of mutants. The results indicated that induced mutability is governed by the genetic architecture of the material used, and the gamma irradiation and EMS differ in their mutation spectrum. The appearance of chlorophyll mutants gave a good indication that other morphological mutants will occur in a fairly good proportion. The highest frequency of morphological mutants was recorded for the first time. An inverse relationship between radiosensitivity in MI and mutability in M2 was observed. The genotype ILC 482 was least sensitive to gamma irradiation and EMS, but most mutable genotype, whereas ILC 6104 was most sensitive to gamma irradiation and EMS, but least mutable. The mutagenic treatments induced mutations affecting plant height, growth habit, branching and stem structure, stem and foliage colour, leaf type, flowering and maturity, seed and pod type. There were differences in mutation spectrum between the genotypes and between the tow mutagens. The most notable mutants were those having large seed size (from ILC 482 and ILC 3279), tall plant type; 80 cm (from tallest parent ILC 3279; 65 cm), and cold tolerant mutant from ILC 482. These mutants may be used directly in developing a variety. Other mutants like double flowering, early maturity, long pod, and various leaf type mutations increase the wealth of germplasm for breeding programmes. Mutations as tendril, fasciated, leafless, and aphid attracting are important from a phylogenetic and evolutionary point of view
