INHERITANCE OF FEMALE STERILITY IN INDUCED Cicer SPECIES

Abstract

Mutations play an important role to induce new genes, creating variation. The present study deals with inheritance of female sterilities in the induced mutants of the cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and its progenitor (Cicer reticulatum Ladiz.).  Air-dried seeds of Cicer species were irradiated with 200, 300 and 400 Gy gamma rays. Two induced mutations conferring open flower and determinate growth habit with small leaf characteristics in the cultivated chickpea and its progenitor were discovered in M2 generation. These mutant chickpeas were female sterile. Inheritance study showed that the female sterility in the induced mutants was controlled by a single recessive gene (fs). The female sterility, determinate growth habit, open flower and small leaf characteristics were first reported for C. reticulatum Ladiz. Results indicated that a joint segregation of the female sterility, open flower, determinate growth habit and small leaf characteristics might be linked in both of induced mutants of the cultivated chickpea and its progenitor. The new gene discovered on the sterility in the induced mutants may be useful for gene mapping in Cicer species.