Identification and Evaluation of Gamma Ray Induced Mutants in Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.)

The present investigations was carried out to isolate and evaluation of gamma ray induced mutants in gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) the experiments were carried out at Floriculture Research Farm, Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishvidyalaya, Raipur, India, during winter of 2018-19 and 2019-20. Five cultivars of gladiolus viz. American Beauty (V1), Dull Queen (V2), Saffron (V3), Candyman (V4) and Summer Sunshine (V5) were irradiated with different doses (0, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 Gy) of gamma rays from 60Co source and planted under open field condition in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with factorial concept. In this experiment different morphological characters i.e. maximum plant height, chlorophyll content, number of spikes per plot and minimum number of days required for first floret opening was observed at 15 Gy gamma rays. Ionising radiation had a negative effect on plants treated with greater doses (45 Gy and 55 Gy), but not so much on plants treated with lower levels (15 Gy and 25 Gy). Stable mutant were found and isolated in gladiolus cultivar American Beauty having yellow throat of red colour at 45 Gy, total spike colour of tepals was orange red at 55 Gy and light yellow colour was recorded in cv. Saffron at 45 Gy. A stable pinkish white colour mutant in cv. Dull Queen at 45 Gy.