Gamma ray induced light-orange flower mutant in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and its inheritance

Abstract

A dwarf mutant plant having small leaves and light-orange flower was identified in the M₂ generation from gamma ray treated groundnut cultivar VRI 2. The mutant bred true in successive generations. An investigation was made to know the genetics of light-orange flower in groundnut mutant. The Spanish bunch cultivar VRI 2 having orange flower was crossed with the light-orange flower mutant. The F₁ plants exhibited orange flower indicating that the orange colour is governed by dominant gene. However, the F₂ population segregated as 3 orange: 1 light-orange flower indicating the light-orange flower trait is governed by a single recessive gene.