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Quality studies in induced bearded mutants of Ridley
M. P. SINGH, A. K. KAUL, V. K. HANSLAL and A. RAM Division of Genetics Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-12, India Dry seeds of Ridley having 9% moisture content were exposed to different dosages of X-rays, gamma-rays, fast-neutrons and radioisotopes (P32 and S35) to induce the awning. SINGH1) has discussed the relative performance of different selections from induced awned mutants. On the basis of thousand grain weight, single plant yield and small scale yield trials, it has now been confirmed that the yielding potentialities of Ridley bearded mutants are either at per or slightly superior to their control. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the quality performance of mutants, F. B-1, and F. B-2, in relation to control. The selection of these two mutants for this further evaluation was based on their better yielding performance. The tests were conducted in the Wheat Quality Laboratory of Indian Agricultural Research Institute and the results obtained are summarized in Table. 1. In earlier report, SINGH (2) suggested a monogenic difference between induced bearded mutants and Ridley control, which he explained, was due to the deletion of B1, a dominant awn inhibitor located on long arm of chromosome IX(5A). In these mutants, otherwise morphologically similar to Ridley, differences in the quality characters were observed (Table 1). The mean values for sedimentation value, protein percentage, gluten content and keeping quality of chapati showed differences among the two mutants. The numerical difference in some characters is not significant, but it is evident that in general these two high yielding mutants are not inferior to control. In other characters, such as puffing, colour, aroma, taste, colour of flour and the colour of dough, no apparent difference could be detected. The variance for a character is invariably increased by radiation there by creating scope for selection of mutants with desirable characters. VARUGHESE and SWAMINATHAN (3) have also reported increase in the protein percentage in radiation induced amber mutants in Sonora 63 and Sonora 64. The fact that F.B-1 mutant is comparatively better in quality than F. B-2 further suggests, that an immense scope for improvement in the nutritive value of food-stuffs, through genetic manipulation exists. FRANK and WILLIAM (4) have obtained evidence for the corresponding increase in amino-acid, phenylalanine, and proline with an increase in the protein content of wheat. The proteins of F. B-1 mutant, if subjected to amino-acid analysis might provide some useful information. The present results along with that of VARUGHESE and SWAMINATHAN on wheat and KAUL and SHARMA (unpublished) on peas, indicate the possibility of selecting mutants with improved quality characters and high protein content in cereal grains if proper screening procedures are adopted. Acknowledgement : The authors wish to thank Dr. A. AUSTIN for critically going through the manuscript. Literature Cited ( 1 ) SINGH, M. P. 1966. Ind. J. Exp. Biol. 4 (4): 234-236. ( 2 ) SINGH, M. P. 1965. Ph. D. Thesis. Post-Graduate School, I. A. R. I. ( 3 ) VARUGHESE, G. and SWAMINATHAN, M. S. 1966. Curr. Sci. 35 (18) : 469-470. ( 4 ) FRANK, N. H. and WILLIAM, B. B. 1965. Cereal Chem. 42 (2) : 140. (Received July 24, 1967) |