Radiation induced pollen sterility and enhanced outcrossing in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Abstract

Seeds of six groundnut cultivars with distinguishable morphological features were irradiated with 5, 10, 15 and 20 kR gamma rays and grown surrounded by a pollen parent. The effect of irradiation on pollen sterility and other quantitative characters was studied in M₁. Pollen sterility increased almost linearly with increase in dose in each cultivar. There was significant variety x dose interaction. The correlation between inherent pollen sterility (measured in control) and percent increase in sterility was negative. The induced variation was significant only for five quantitative characters. Fifteen kR was the most effective dose for inducing a high level of pollen sterility without causing significant change in other characters. The correlation between pollen sterility and cross-pollination % was positive and significant implying that induced pollen sterility would enhance cross-pollination.