Agromorphological and biochemical characterization of mutagens induced M3 mutant lines of grasspea.

Grasspea is one of the important cool season legumes in India and it is hardy in nature. Although this crop is robust, it is not commonly grown because presence of more amount of the β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) in the seeds and it causes neurolathyrism. Due to low levels of genetic variation in β-ODAP content in grasspea made it difficult to improve through traditional breeding. However, induced mutagenesis can be a useful and alternative method to add more genetic variability, opening up more possibilities for the identification and characterization of new genetic variations. In this study, three varieties (Nirmal, Biol-212 and Berhampur Local) seeds were treated with physical mutagen (γ-rays) chemical mutagen (EMS) and their combinations. M1, M2 and M3 populations were developed by these mutagenic treatments. The M3 populations of all three varieties were screened for morphological, yield and biochemical traits. A wider range of induced viable mutants was found in Biol-212 indicated that variety is more susceptible to both mutagens than the other two. Only two Nirmal mutants, seven Biol-212 mutants and five Berhampur Local mutants were non-segregating and performed better than their parents in terms of improved biochemical parameters such as low β-ODAP and Trypsin Inhibitor, and more protein content and yield. Mutation creates variability for biochemical traits and selecting progenies for favorable means and higher variances in the early generations will be highly beneficial, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of yield and its components in the M3 generation. Grasspea germplasm might be enhanced by the mutants exhibiting higher yield with improve biochemical properties.