Ethyl Methanesulphonate and Sodium Azide Effects on Seedling Growth and Chlorophyll Mutations in Psoralea corylifolia IC 111228

Abstract

Mutagens have become important tools in generating new variability that can be used in improvement of plants. Psoralea corylifolia L. is known for its immense biological importance in Ayurvedic medicine, with special reference to the cure of skin diseases. Seed germination, seedling growth, chlorophyll mutations, and pollen sterility were evaluated in M₁ and M₂ generations of P. corylifolia IC 111228 seeds exposed to 15 mM, 30 mM, 45 mM, and 60 mM of ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) and 1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM, and 4 mM of sodium azide (SA) for 4 and 8 h. Reduction in seed germination occurred with increase in the concentrations of EMS and SA, highest level reaching with 4 mM SA applied for 8 h. Sodium azide caused higher reduction in seedling height vis-à-vis greater seedling injury than that caused by EMS. Plant survivability decreased significantly with increasing doses of either mutagen. Pollen sterility increased with increasing mutagen doses and was higher with EMS treatment than with SA. The frequency of chlorophyll mutations scored was higher in SA-treated than EMS-treated population. Chlorophyll and carotenoids contents also decreased with higher doses of mutagens in either generation. Sodium azide was potentially a more effective mutagen than EMS in a dose-dependent manner.

KEYWORDS:

• chlorophyll mutants
• medicinal plant
• mutagens
• seed germination
• seedling survivability