Ethyl Methanesulphonate (EMS) Induced Mutagenic Disorders in Amaranthus tricolor L.

Ethyl Methanesulfonate (EMS) is a common, powerful and one of the most effective chemical mutagen, to induce a large number of functional variations in crops. Present study was to analyze the mutagenic effectof EMS in M1 generation in Amaranthus (Amaranthus tricolor L. ). Seeds were treated with different doses (0.5 %, 1 %, 2 % and 3 %) of mutagen for 4 hrs and grown in gunny bags along with control. Morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical parameters of Amaranthus were analysed for 50 days at definite intervals. All parameters decreased with increase in doses of EMS. A strong deleterious effect on the germination percentage was witnessed in 3 % of EMS. There was a negative correlation in length of root, shoot length, number of secondary roots and fresh weight with EMS percentage. Values of growth coefficient, relative growth rate, tolerance index, phytomass and net productivity were gradually decreasing with increasing doses of EMS. Anatomical parameters also showed marked decrease in stem. Leaf area and chlorophyll content were lowest in 3 % EMS.