Assessment of induced genetic variability for yield traits and powdery mildew resistance in oat

Abstract

To induce genetic variability in oat cultivars of oat HJ-8 for powdery mildew resistance and yield traits, twoviz., and Kent were treated with gamma rays (200 Gy, 300 Gy and 400 Gy), EMS (0.3%, 0 6% and 0.9% v/v) and . their respective combinations. Powdery mildew disease reaction, germination (%) and survivability (%) were recorded for M generation during 2018. M generation was screened for 1 2 Rabi in augmented block design various yield traits, chlorophyll mutants in 2019 LD values of EMS- and powdery mildew resistance . Rabi 50treated HJ-8 and Kent cultivars were 1.40% and 0.84%, respectively using Probit analysis, which indicated that LD value varied from genotype to genotype. The highest number of 50 powdery mildew-resistant putativemutants for both cultivars was observed for combined treatments in M generation. Five 1 chlorophyll mutants were observed in M generation The highest mutagenic effectiveness for 0.9% EMS, 2 . HJ-8 was observed for while in case of Kent, it was 0.3%. Analysis of variance revealed sufficient variation was generated in the treatments for all the traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance recorded for days to flowering initiation, biological yield per plant, grain yield per plant, harvest index and 100-grain weight indicated additive gene action with negligible environmental effects. Grain yield per plant showed a significant positive correlation and direct effect with biological yield per plant 100-grain weight. and Maximum M mutants were 2 unique as they fall in different quadrants of PCA-biplot. Thirty-three putative mutants resistant to powdery mildew were obtained in M generation. These putative mutants could be used in oat improvement programme.