Selection of Semidwarf, Early Maturing and Blast Resistant Mutants after Mutagenic Seed Treatment in Two Locally Adapted Indian Rice Cultivars

The objective of this study was to induce semidwarf, early maturing and blast resistant mutants in two adapted Indian rice cultivars. Seeds of the rice cultivars ‘Madhu Malti’ and ‘Phul Patas 72’ were treated with gamma rays and ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) as well as a combination of gamma rays and EMS. A total of 96 dwarf (< 75 cm) and semidwarf (< 100 cm) and 104 early flowering/maturing M₂ plants were identified among the 18,060 M₂ plants observed. Sixty-eight blast resistant M₂ plants were also identified. The true mutant status of these plants has yet to be determined in progeny tests. The induction of desired mutant types in locally adapted cultivars could prove to be superior over their introduction from non-adapted foreign materials via backcrossing in that the important agronomic characteristics of adaptation to the local environment are retained in the mutants.