ZARIA NIGERIA
Ahmadu Bello University
Induced multiple ear mutants in popcorn
(Z. mays var. praecox Sturt.)
--Adamu, AK
The study was carried out with the objective
of inducing beneficial mutants. Air dried seed of popcorn (Z. mays
var. praecox Sturt.) was irradiated with gamma-rays cobalt 60 at
the following doses 10, 20, 30, 40, and 400Gy and Thermal Neutrons (5 curie
241AM/Be neutron source flux 1.5 x 104n.cm-2S-1) at 25, 40, 50, 60 minutes
and 12 hours. Result obtained indicated an increase in the number of ear
induced per plant in both M1 and M2 generations and the increase was in
direct proportion to the dose for both gamma-rays and thermal neutrons.
The number of ears induced in the M1 generation ranges from zero (none)
to five and in some, up to 6 ears per plant. The frequency of occurrence
in the M2 generation of these mutants was relatively low when compared
with the M1 generation.
Please Note: Notes submitted to the Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter may be cited only with consent of the authors.
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