Preliminary Study on the Effect of Different Concentrations of EMS on Two Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millsp.) Accessions

In the present study, seeds of Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L. Millspaugh) accessions (Brown and Cream colours) were treated with different concentrations of Ethyl methane sulphonate (0.0 %, 0.01 %, 0.02 %, 0.03 %, 0.04 %, 0.05 %, 0.06 % and 0.07 %). The seeds were sown and monitored for 30 days. Data obtained showed a trendy effect. Data obtained showed that germination percentage was decreased with an increase in the mutagen concentration when compared with the control. The result also showed that the survival percentage of the plants reduced with an increase in the concentration of the mutagen. The lethal dose (LD50) was determined upon germination and survival of the pigeon pea accessions. The result showed that 50 % germination was recorded under treatment 0.05 % EMS in the brown colour accession and 0.04 % EMS in the Cream colour. These concentrations are therefore considered as the LD50 values.