Genetic Variability through Induced Mutation

Abstract

The success of plant breeding is based on the accessibility of genetic variation, information about desired traits with well-organized approach that make it likely to develop existing genetic resources. Food security demands to break the yield barrier through increasing new cultivars which can adapt to wide range of environment. It is especially important to observe the character association for yield along with its components before recognizing novel technique to break the yield barrier. There are numerous methods for improved exploiting of the inherent genetic makeup of crops with heritable variations. It is recommended that recognized parental resources can also be induced to mutate for unmasking novel alleles of genes that organize the traits suitable for the crop varieties of the 21st century world. Chemical mutagens have extensively been applied to make genetic changes in crop plants for breeding investigation as well as genetic studies. Ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) is the most frequently applied as chemical agents in plants. EMS normally induces GC → AT transitions in the genome causing mutated protein that performed different functions rather than normal. It is exposed that the utilization of EMS is an efficient approach for developing novel gene pool.