GENETIC DIVERSITY OF M2 MUTANTS OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUS L INDUCED BY ETHYL- METHANESULPHONATE (EMS)

ABSTRACT
Sunflower is an important oilseed crop due to its health related values. Induced mutations are often used to create new genetic variability where sufficient variation does not exist naturally as in the case of sunflower. This study was carried out at the laboratory and research farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, Zaria to assess the response of the sunflower seeds to different EMS doses and determine optimal doses for successful mutation; estimate genetic variability for agronomic traits among the M₂ mutant lines and identify some desirable mutants for oil content and other agronomic traits; assess the degree of association among oil content, grain yield and other agronomic traits and assess the degree of similarity among the selected mutants. Two sunflower varieties (SAMSUN2 and SAMSUN4) obtained from Institute of Agricultural Research were treated with EMS concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 1.0 and 1.5% for 2, 4, 6 and 8 hrs with controls to ascertain optimum EMS concentration and exposure time to bring about desirable mutation. The laboratory study showed progressive decrease in seed germination as EMS concentration and exposure durations were increased. Optimum doses were observed at 0.1% EMS for 6 hrs, 0.2% EMS for 4 hrs, 0.2% EMS for 6 hrs, 0.3% EMS for 4 hrs and 0.3% EMS for 6 hrs for the two varieties out of which 0.2% EMS for 4 hrs, 0.2% EMS for 6 hrs, 0.3% EMS for 4 hrs and 0.3% EMS for 6 hrs were chosen to generate M₁ population in the research farm. A total of 78 M₁ plants with substantial seed set were used to raise M₂ population in progeny rows. Surviving 418 mutant progenies as well as two checks were evaluated for desired agronomic traits in M₂ generation using 16 x 5 lattices design with two replications. The analysis of variance for agronomic traits revealed significant (P<0.05) differences amongst the mutants progenies. Sixty (60) mutants professing higher seed yield per plant (11 – 23 g) were evaluated for oil content. The correlation study showed that grain yield per plant was