Journal of Environmental Biology

Effect of gamma rays on different explants of callus treatment of

multiple shoots in Cucumis melo cv. Bathasa

M. Venkateshwarlu

Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal - 506 009, India

(Received: August 10, 2006; Revised received: March 03, 2007; Re-revised received: March 10, 2007; Accepted: May 29, 2007)

Abstract: A mutagenesis programme was carried out using physical mutagens (gamma rays) on Cucumis melo cv. Bathasa. In irradiated seeds the number of shoots formed in the lower doses was significantly higher than the controls.  Decrease in the number of shoots and shoot bud formation was observed with higher doses in all the explants studies. There was complete lethality in the 10, 15 and 20 kR doses. In irradiated stem cultures the maximum number of shoots were observed in 2 kR. The number of shoots decreased with increasing doses of irradiation.  At higher doses of 4 and 5kR, light green compact callus was formed in almost all the explants. The effect of lower doses of gamma irradiation on shoot bud formation and rooting efficiency from nodal explants cultured on MS + 2.0 mg l^-1 L-glutamic acid  + 0.5 mg l^-1 BAP, stimulation of shoot and root induction were studied.  The number of shoots and root lengths decreased with the increasing dosage of irradiation.  The irradiated callus was grown on solidified MS medium with containing 2.0 mg l^-1 BAP + 1.0 mgl ^-1 IAA.  There was a significant stimulation of growth in the callus at lower doses. At higher doses like 15 and 20 kRs growth was drastically reduced. 

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