Performance and selection for yield of wheat mutants derived from different cultivars

Summary Phenotypically stable wheat mutants derived from the gamma rays, ethyl methane sulphonate and combined mutagenic treatments of one locally bred cultivar (C-591) and two cultivars (Indus-66 and Nayab) of Mexican origin, were tested for yield performance in M₆ generation. Mutants originating from Nayab could be classified into two main categories relative to the control viz. significantly higher yielding and significantly lower yielding. Mutants of C-591 and Indus-66 gave only significantly reduced mean yields compared with their respective controls. Considerable increases in genotypic variance, heritability and genetic gain expected from selection, were observed among the mutants of the three cultivars. The importance of induced mutations for increasing genetic variability connected with useful agronomic traits is emphasised.