Inducing Genetic Variability in Pearl Millet Using Sodium Azide and Nitrous Acid

Background and Objective: Mutation has great possibilities which can be utilized in a breeding program. There is a growing interest in mutation breeding as reflected in the volume of work on the induction of mutations for genetic diversity. Field trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of Nitrous acid (HNO₂) and Sodium azide (NaN₃) on the yield of pearl millet varieties at different concentrations. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the mutagens and the optimal concentration that increases the agronomic traits in pearl millet. Materials and Methods: Treatments consisted of two varieties of pearl millet (ICMP1970085 and ICMP1970116). The NaN₃ and HNO₂ were used for this experiment. A Randomized Complete Block Design was used for the field layout and in three replications. The seeds of the two varieties of millet were divided into 2 sets. Results: The mutants treated with HNO₂ in most cases show improved yield than those treated with NaN₃ in ICMP1970116 while for ICMP1970085 the reverse is the case ICMP1970116 treated with a low concentration of NaN₃ (2 Mm) performed well in yield. The high concentration of NaN₃ produces earlier mutants while, those treated with 4 mM concentration performed better in Downey mildew incidence and panicle weight after harvest. The 2 mM of HNO₂ performed better in yield traits, while 3 mM of HNO₂ performed well in days to fifty percent flowering. Conclusion: Sodium azide at 2 mM while, HNO₂ at 3 mM appears to be the most effective treatment for inducing variability in the two pearl millet varieties.