Response of Sorghum vulgare L. cultivars to gamma irradiation, a preliminary approach

The seeds of four Sorghum vulgareL. cultivars (Asian, Indian, Mycho, Summer graze) exposed to various doses of gamma irradiation (15 krad, 20 krad, 25 krad, 30 krad) were critically examined for percent emergence, plumule andradical growth, fresh anddry weight and moisture contents. Irradiation doses were instrumental in creating significant variability for all traits except percent emergence, indicating that Sorghum vulgareL. cultivars did not perform uniformly across different gamma rays treatments. The cultivars varied significantly (P < 0.05) for all characters. Similarly, doses × cultivars effects were highly significant for radical growth, percent emergence, biomass as well as moisture contents, indicating greater instability of performance formentioned characters across different irradiation treatments. Mutagenic treatments shifted mean values towards negative direction for almost all traits except moisture contents. Mutagenic effectiveness was found to be dependent upon dose and cultivarsconcerned. The present study categorically showed that the applied doses of gamma irradiation were unable to enhance percent emergence and seedling growth. Inter cultivar genetic variations were observed among the cultivars