Effects of induced mutation on general combining ability and association of traits in Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop)

Baghaee-niya, Marziyeh; Majidi, Mohammad-mahdi; Mirluhi, Aghafakhr

Effects of induced mutation on general combining ability and association of traits in Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop)

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

To evaluate the effects of induced mutation by Ethyle Methane Sulphonat (EMS) on general combining ability (GCA) and character relationships on Sainfoin, 40 M₃ genotypes along with 39 non-mutant counterpart genotypes were assessed for 18 agro-morphological traits in the field during two years. Means comparison by year showed that mutant genotypes were superior for leaf/stem ratio and dry matter yield after established in the second year. Results showed that general combing ability (GCA) was lower in mutant genotypes for most of the traits. However, for several traits such as leaf to stem ratio the parameter was higher in mutant families. Cluster analysis based on general combining ability grouped mutant and non-mutant families separately in three clusters. Based on important traits, a number of mutant (8, 10, 12, 20, 25, 26 and 36) and non-mutant genotypes (7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) were selected as best parents for synthetic variety development. Mutation changed relationships between several characters. For example correlation of dry forage yield with number of inflorescence was negative in non-mutant while positive in mutant families. Correlation of leaf percentage with number of stem per plant was positive in mutant but negative in non-mutant families. Factor analysis also showed that mutant families with fewer factors explained greater variance than non-mutant families, indicating that mutation induction and selection can change combining ability and relationships of traits and factors affecting the relations.

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