Ph.D HORICULTURE SKRAU, BIKANER

4. Characteristics of Mutations
 Mutations are generally recessive.
 Mutations are generally harmful to the organism.
But a small proportion (0.1 per cent) of them are
beneficial.
 Mutations are random.
 Mutations are recurrent.
 Induced mutation commonly show pleiotropy.

5. Types of mutation
Gene or Point Mutation: By changes in the base
sequence of genes.
Chromosomal Mutation: By changes in
chromosome structure, or even in chromosome
number.
Cytoplasmic Mutation: Mutant character shows
cytoplasmic or extranuclear inheritance.
Bud or Somatic Mutation: Mutation occurring in
buds or somatic tissues which are used for
propagation.

6. Molecular basis of mutation

7. Change in Chromosome
Structure
1. Mutations involving changes in chromosome
structure occur in four common types:
a. Deletions.
b. Duplications.
c. Inversions (changing orientation of a DNA
segment).
d. Translocations (moving a DNA segment).

8. Chromosomal Deletion

9. Chromosomal
Insertion

10. Chromosomal inversion

11. Chromosomal translocation

12.  SPONTANEOUS MUTATION
 INDUCED MUTATION
Types of mutation on the basis of
occurrence

13. SPONTANAEOUS MUTATION
Mutation occur in natural populations
(without any treatment by man) at a low
rate; known as Spontaneous mutation.
Frequency of Spontaneous mutation is
generally 10-6
.
Spontaneous mutation rates of genes may
be considerably affected by the genetic
background; some mutator gene may
promote mutation of other genes.

14. INDUCED MUTATION
Mutation may be artificially induced by a
treatment with certain physical or chemical
agents known as Induced Mutation.
Agents used for producing them termed as
Mutagens.
The utilization of induced mutation for crop
improvement is known as Mutation
Breeding.
Induced mutation have a great advantage
over
the spontaneous ones; they occur at a
relatively higher frequency so that it is

15. MUTAGENS
PHYSICAL MUTAGENS
Ionising radiation
a. Particulate radiation, e.g., α-rays,
β -rays, Fast neutrons &
Thermal neutrons.
b) Non particulate radiation
(electromagnetic radiation),
e.g., X-rays & - rays.
Non ionising radiation,
e.g., UV radiation
CHEMICAL MUTAGENS
a. Alkylating agents
Sulphur mustard, nitrogen
mustard, EMS, MMS etc.
b. Acridine dyes
Acriflavine, Proflavine, Acridine
orange etc.
c. Base analogues
5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil
d. Others
Nitrous acid, hydroxyl amine,
sodium azide

16. Effect of Mutation
Lethal : Kill each & every individual carrying them
Sublethal & Subvital : Sublethal kill more than
50% of the individuals, while subvitals kill much
less than 50%.
Vital : Do not reduce viability of the individual
carrying them.

17. Procedure for Mutation Breeding
Objectives of the programme
Selection of the variety for mutagen treatment
Part of the plant to be treated
Dose of the mutagen
Giving mutagen treatment
Handling of the mutagen-treated population

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First year
M1
Second year
M2
Third year
M3
Fourth year
M4
Fifth-Seventh year
M5-M7
Eigth year
M8
1) Treated seeds are space-planted.
2) Seeds from individual plants are harvested separately.
1) Individual plant progenies grown.
2) Plants from rows containing the mutant allele harvested
separately.
1) Individual plant progenies grown.
2) Superior mutant lines harvested in bulk if they are
homogeneous.
3) Individual plant selected in heterozygous progenies.
1) Preliminary yield trial with a suitable check.
2) Superior lines selected.
1) Replicated yield trial at several locations.
2) Outstanding lines released as a new variety.
Seed multiplication for distribution among
farmers.
Mutation Breeding for Oligogenic Traits

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First year
M1
Second year
M2
Third year
M3
Fourth year
M4
Sixth-Eighth year
M6-M8
Ninth year M9
1) Treated seeds are space-planted.
2) Seeds from individual plants are harvested separately.
1) Individual plant progenies grown.
2) Fertile, vigorous, normal looking plants harvested separately.
1) Individual plant progenies from the selected plants grown.
2) Superior mutant lines harvested in bulk if they are homogeneous.
3) Segregating lines usually rejected.
1) Preliminary yield trial with a suitable check.
2) Superior lines selected.
1) Replicated yield trial at several locations.
2) Outstanding lines released as a new variety.
Seed multiplication for distribution among farmers.
Mutation Breeding for Polygenic Traits
1) Individual plant progenies from selected plants grown.
2) Superior plants selected from superior progenies showing
segregation.
Fifth year
M5

20. Screening or Selection
Mainly three types of screening are used in M-2
and Subsequent generation
1. Visual
2. Mechanical or Physical
3. Chromatography or Electrophoresis

21. The primary research center and institute in India
that participated in the development and released
of various mutagen
1. IARI, New Delhi
2. BARC, Mumbai
3. NBRI, Lucknow

22. MUTANT VARIETIESMUTANT VARIETIES
Cereals 1206Cereals 1206
Flowers 454Flowers 454
Legumes 203Legumes 203
Oil crops 198Oil crops 198
Others 611Others 611
Total Number : 2672Total Number : 2672
Plant Species : 170Plant Species : 170
Sources: FAO/IAEA Mutant Varieties DatabaseSources: FAO/IAEA Mutant Varieties Database

24. Short stemmed & dwarf
mutants
SpeciesSpecies MutagensMutagens
Lycopersicon esculentumLycopersicon esculentum Gamma raysGamma rays
Gamma rays & neutronsGamma rays & neutrons
SpontaneousSpontaneous
Capsicum annuumCapsicum annuum X-raysX-rays
Pisum sativumPisum sativum Gamma raysGamma rays
X-rays & neutronsX-rays & neutrons
EMSEMS
Phaseolus vulgarisPhaseolus vulgaris X-raysX-rays
Gamma raysGamma rays
Vicia fabaVicia faba Gamma rays & EMSGamma rays & EMS
Cucumis meloCucumis melo spontaneousspontaneous

25. Early flowering & high
yielding mutants
CropsCrops Mutagenic agentsMutagenic agents RemarksRemarks
LycopersiconLycopersicon
esculentumesculentum
Gamma raysGamma rays
Gamma raysGamma rays
DESDES
Early & high yieldingEarly & high yielding
Early flowering mutantsEarly flowering mutants
High yieldHigh yield
Capsicum annuumCapsicum annuum Gamma raysGamma rays A productive mutantA productive mutant
Pisum sativumPisum sativum Gamma raysGamma rays
X-rays & neutronX-rays & neutron
DESDES
Super mutagenSuper mutagen
X-rays & neutronsX-rays & neutrons
10 days earlier10 days earlier
Early and lowEarly and low
yielderyielder
Very earlyVery early
5 early mutants5 early mutants
differentialdifferential
response toresponse to
environmentenvironment
Phaseolus vulgarisPhaseolus vulgaris
EMS & MMSEMS & MMS
X-rays & gamma raysX-rays & gamma rays
Early floweringEarly flowering
Early & high yieldingEarly & high yielding

26. Mutants with increased
yield
cropscrops mutagensmutagens
Solanum tuberosumSolanum tuberosum IrradiationIrradiation
Ipomoea batatasIpomoea batatas SpontaneousSpontaneous
Lycopersicon esculentumLycopersicon esculentum Gamma raysGamma rays
DESDES
Chemical mutagenChemical mutagen
Capsicum annuumCapsicum annuum Chemical mutagenChemical mutagen
Phaseolus vulgarisPhaseolus vulgaris Gamma raysGamma rays
X-raysX-rays
Irradiation/ chemical mutagensIrradiation/ chemical mutagens
Vicia fabaVicia faba
SpontaneousSpontaneous
Irradiation/chemical mutagenIrradiation/chemical mutagen

27. Mutants for resistance
traits
crop pathogen mutagen
Solanum
tuberosum
Phytophthora infestans Gama rays
X-rays
Alternaria solani Spontaneous
Pseudomonas
solanacearum
Gama rays EMS, NMU
Leaf roll virus X-rays
Erwinia phytophthora NEU
Lycopersicon
esculentum
Phytophthora infestans Gamma rays
Fusarium oxysporum Gamma rays
Virus & nematode Chemical mutagens
Ipomoea batatas Cold tolarance Gamma rays

28. crops pathogens mutagens
Solanum melongena Pseudomonas
solanacearum
irradiation
Pisum sativum Powdery mildew X-rays
Phaseolus vulgaris Bacterial disease Gamma rays
Golden mosaic virus EMS
Yellow mosaic virus Gamma rays and EMS
Uromyces phaseoli Gamma rays & EMS
Xanthomonas phaseoli Gamma rays
Cont…

29. Mutants with changed
quality attributes
CropsCrops MutagensMutagens remarksremarks
LycopersiconLycopersicon
esculentumesculentum
Gamma raysGamma rays High dry matter &High dry matter &
sugarsugar
Gamma rays & fastGamma rays & fast
neutronneutron
Uniform ripening &Uniform ripening &
high dry matterhigh dry matter
contentcontent
spontaneousspontaneous IncreasedIncreased ββ carotenecarotene
contentcontent
CapsicumCapsicum
annuumannuum
Various mutagensVarious mutagens Increased capsaicin &Increased capsaicin &
reduced pigmentationreduced pigmentation
Gamma raysGamma rays Higher capsaicinHigher capsaicin
contentcontent
Sodium azide, EMSSodium azide, EMS 20-60% higher20-60% higher
capsaicin contentcapsaicin content
IrradiationIrradiation High protienHigh protien
VignaVigna
unguiculataunguiculata
spontaneousspontaneous Green seed coatGreen seed coat
contentcontent

30. Conti…
cropscrops mutagensmutagens remarksremarks
Vicia fabaVicia faba Irradiation, chemicalIrradiation, chemical
mutagensmutagens
Increased protein contentIncreased protein content
Phaseolus vulgarisPhaseolus vulgaris X-raysX-rays From yellow to green podedFrom yellow to green poded
EI, DMSEI, DMS Increased protein content &Increased protein content &
var Moskovsky released invar Moskovsky released in
U.S.S.R.U.S.S.R.
Trigonella foenumgraecumTrigonella foenumgraecum MMSMMS Increased crude oil contentIncreased crude oil content
B. oleracia var botrytisB. oleracia var botrytis spontaneousspontaneous Orange curd mutantOrange curd mutant
B. pekinensisB. pekinensis EI, DMSEI, DMS Increased ascorbic acidIncreased ascorbic acid
contentcontent
Solanum tuberosumSolanum tuberosum Gamma rays &Gamma rays &
radioisotopesradioisotopes
White skinned, fleet eyesWhite skinned, fleet eyes
from deep eyesfrom deep eyes
Ipomoea batatasIpomoea batatas Gamma raysGamma rays Change in tuber colourChange in tuber colour
Gamma rays, EIGamma rays, EI Variation in sugar contentVariation in sugar content
G. Kalloo 1988

31. Mutant varieties in VegetablesMutant varieties in Vegetables
Crop Variety Mutant Type
Okra EMS-8 EMS-treated mutant of Pusa
Sawani
French bean Pusa Parvati X-ray mutant of Wax pod
Tomato S-12
Maruthan (Co-3)
PKM-1
Pusa Lal Meeruti
X-ray mutant of Sioux
Mutant of Co-1
Mutant of Annagi
Gamma ray mutant of Meeruti
Chilli MDU-1 Gamma ray mutant of K-1
Hyacinth bean Co-10 Gamma ray mutant of Co-6
Bitter gourd MDU-1 Gamma ray mutant of MC-103
Palak Jobner Green Spontaneous mutant from local
cv.
Pea L-166 (Hans) -

32. Case Study - 1

33. Case Study - 2

34. Case Study - 3

36. Limitation of Mutation Breeding
The frequency of desirable mutation is very low,
about 0.1% of the total mutations.
The breeder has to screen large populations to select
desirable mutations.
Desirable mutations are commonly associated with
undesirable side effects due to other mutations,
chromosomal aberrations etc.
Often mutation produce pleiotropic effects.
There may be problems in the registration of a
mutant variety.
Most of the mutations are recessive.

38. THANK
YOU