Induced Mutagenesis in Tomato: Comparative Morphological and Yield Evaluation of EMS-Derived Mutants for Genetic Variability and Superior Genotypes
Shafqat Mehraj
Division of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Zafir Ahmad Naik
Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture (FOA), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Wadura, Sopore, India.
Saba Mir
Division of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Madeeha Naik
Division of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Maqsooda Perveen
Division of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Shivani
Division of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Tasmeen J. Parihar
Division of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Khursheed Hussain
Division of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Aijaz Malik
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ganderbal, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Jammu & Kashmir, India.
F. A. Lone
Division of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
M. Ashraf Bhat
Dryland Agriculture Research Station (DARS), Budgam, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Masood Saleem Mir
Division of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (FVSc & AH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama, Ganderbal, India.
Sumati Narayan
Division of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
Zahoor A. Dar
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), India.
J. A. Mugloo
Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kulgam, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Khalid Zaffar Masoodi *
Division of Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture (FOH), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shalimar, Srinagar, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Crop improvement requires genetic variability, and induced mutagenesis provides an efficient approach for producing new variation. In this study, the genetic diversity of 24 tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes comprising 21 induced mutants, one parent genotype, and two standard checks, was assessed in both controlled and natural environments. Principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis, genetic variability factors, and analysis of variance were used to analyse morphological and yield-related characteristics. All traits showed highly significant genotypic variances, suggesting significant genetic diversity. Fruit weight, number of locules, fruits per truss, and yield per plant all showed strong genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, high heritability, and genetic advancement, indicating the predominance of additive gene action. While cluster analysis separated genotypes into discrete clusters, indicating significant genetic divergence among mutants and their isolation from the parent genotype, PCA showed that fruit size attributes and yield components were the main contributors to overall variability.The strength of trait relationships and diversity patterns was validated by the agreement between univariate and multivariate analyses. Overall, the study shows that induced mutants are important genetic resources and finds important characteristics and superior genotypes that can be successfully used in tomato breeding programs targeted at genetic improvement and yield increase.
Keywords: Tomato, mutagenesis, genetic variability, heritability, principal component analysis, yield traits