amma Radiation: Physical Elicitor for In vitro Culture Techniques of Cajanus cajan.

ABSTRACT

Gamma rays are very important in mutation breeding and in in vitro mutagenesis in order to develop required features of plants and increase the genetic variability. Cajanus cajan when subjected to absorbed doses 30 Gy, 50 Gy, 100 Gy, 150 Gy and 200 Gy showed a direct corelation between callus induction, regeneracy frequency and absorbed doses of gamma radiation as compared to control. Gamma irradiation resulted in the induction of autonomous growth in callus, which led to the formation of callus tumors resembling the shape of crown gall tumors. Gamma irradiation in the present study proved to be an important tool in increasing the breeding efficiency, and regeneration frequency, especially that of the recalcitrant varieties.