Suchetana Mukherjee and Animesh K. Datta*
Department of Botany, Cytogenetics and Plant Breeding Section, Kalyani University,
Kalyani 741235, West Bengal, India
*Corresponding author e-mail: dattaanimesh@gmail.com
Abstract: Dry seeds (moisture content :19.04%) of Nigella sativa L. (Family: Rananculaceae; common name – black cumin, spice of commerce) were gamma irradiated (50, 100,150, and 200 Gray doses) and M1 (germination frequency, seedling length, lethality, injury, mitotic index, mitotic aberration frequency; meiotic abnormalities, pollen fertility and seed sterility) parameter and M2 mutation (macromutants) frequency were studied with an objective to assess mutagenic sensitivity as a pre-requisite for mutation breeding experiment. LD50 was found to be between 50 Gy and 100 Gy. Results obtained are discussed.
Keywords: Gamma irradiations, M1 parameters, mitotic & meiotic aberrations, Nigella sativa.
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