Induced narrow leaf mutant of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Abstract

Narrow leaf mutants were identified in the M2 generation of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), cultivar B-67 treated with nitrous acid (0.25%, 2h-6.25% and 0.25%, 6h-2.50%) and hydrogen peroxide (0.25%, 2h-6.25%; 1.0%, 4h-0.63%; 0.25%, 6h-4.69% and 1.0%, 6h-3.28%) and have been reported as a part of research initiated in the species on induced chemical mutagenesis [1-2] to screen useful mutations. The estimated frequency of the mutant plant over the M2 population (6137 plants scored) was 0.28%. The leaves of the mutant plants were narrow (length: range 10.2 cm to 15.1 cm, mean 12.33 cm ± 0.41; breadth: range 3.6 cm to 4.7 cm, mean 4.1 cm ± 0.08; area: range 24.30 sq. cm to 29.50 sq. cm, mean 26.08 sq.cm ± 2.23) and oblong to lanceolate in shape with entire to undulated margins (Fig. 1Band 1b). The control had leaves (Fig. 1A and 1a) which were palmately forked ovate with irregular margins (length: range 11.5 cm to 15.2 cm, mean 13.65 cm ± 0.41; breadth : range 12.0 cm to 15.8 cm, mean 14.02 cm ± 0.25; area : range 90.0 sq.cm to 110.0 sq.cm, mean 106.05 sq.cm ± 4.19).