INDUCTION, INHERITANCE PATIERN AND AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF AWNED MUTANTS IN A MULTIPLE DISEASE RESISTANT BREAD WHEAT CULTlVAR

Abstract

Awning was induced in a 1RS-1BL awnless bread wheat cultivar 'CPAN 1922' through gamma-irradiation at 3 doses (10, 20 and 30 kR). In M2 generation, 10kR gave the highest mutation frequency and was the most effective as well as efficient treatment for inducing awnedness. The parent variety is indicated to possess a single dominant awn inhibitor Bl. Four promising fully-awned mutants were agronomically evaluated in M3 and M4 generations for grain yield/plant, plant height, tillers/plant, spike length, spikeletslspike, grains/spike and 1000-grain weight. Of these, an agronomically superior mutant has been identified.