Performance of induced. black seed coat mutant in cowpea

Abstract

The seeds of cowpea variety Charodi-1 which was found suitable for dryland of arid regions [1] having small seed size with brown coat colour were irradiated with gamma rays (0, 15, 25, 35 and 50 kR). M1 generation was raised in rainy season of 1990. M2 generation was raised as M1 plant progeny rows. The observation on mutants for seed coat colour were recorded in M2 generations (monsoon season of 1992). The plant population were around 9000-12000 for different treatments. A single black seed coat mutant appearing in M2 generation of 25 kR dose was isolated. In M3 (monsoon season of 1993) progenies of black seed coat mutants were studied along with the parent variety Charodi-1. The mutant was tested in subsequent generations of M4, Ms and M6 (monsoon season of 1994, 1995, 1996) along with parent and check varieties under rainfed conditions. The mutant (CAlC-B) was also tested in All India Cowpea Co-ordinated Initial evaluation Trial in Kharif 1996 at different locations. The crop received a basal dose of fertilizers @ N20 Kg/ha and P2 05 @ 40 Kg/ha during all the seasons. In each generation the segregants not conforming to the mutant plant type were discarded from the population of mutant.