I have 800 plants each for two turmeric varieties in M1V2 generation. I have found that many plants have undesirable characters. I am aiming for simultaneous improvement in curcumin, yield and desirable rhizome characters, In turmeric, yield is associated with plant height, leaf size, number and tillers apart from rhizome characters. I want to select certain mutants in this generation. What is the best strategy for selecting the plants as I wish to analyze for curcumin content in M1V3 generation without losing variability.
I am interested to learn how you carried out mutation breeding - on seeds or somatic buds? I believe self-pollination is not "normal" in turmeric due to self-incompatibility, but if you can force self-pollination this will reveal recessive mutants. Otherwise, mutations will remain hidden in heterozygous form in vegetative clones. Just a few self seeds is enough to start work on the M2 and M3, which is really important to reveal recessive mutants.
I conducted a mutation research program on cotton. I had mutant generation using Cobalt-60 gamma rays on cotton variety seeds. Mutation had great impact at early generation as you realize directly. After 2-3 years mutation destruction effects is declining. Due to the recessive gene effects I started to selection M5 generation. I started to single plant selection having desired characteristics on M5. I used self-pollinated single boll methods. I transferred the each plant with single boll every year till M5 in 2017. If the turmeric is completely self-pollinated you will be start selection M4. You can start the analysis the mutation effects each year.
Dr Wallace Cowling, thank you for your response. Turmeric is a vegetatively propagated crop. It is propagated by rhizomes or chips of rhizomes containing at least on axillary bud. Undifferentiated buds are most responsive to mutations. In this project, I have used indigenous turmeric cultivar Mydukur. Rhizome chips containing at least two buds were treated with 25 Gr gamma irradiation in one set and 250 ppm EMS in another set. In another project, I have used another cultivar Prathibha and used several combinations of gamma irradiation and concentrations of EMS. I have raised the treated seed material in protrays and raised the budlings in nursery. The successfully germinated buds were grown and transplanted in the main field raising M1V2 generation. In M1V2, I have recorded the yield of each individual plant. I have also visually verified core colour intensity of all the plants. In M1V2, I have planted most of the survived plants in the first project, whereas I have selected some plants on yield basis in the second project. In M1V2, now I want to select some plants for M1V3. After studying the crop, I have arrived at three factors that influence the yield: leaf number, tillers and plant height. As the mutations are stabilized in this generation as it is clonally propagated crop, I am planning to select plants on per se performance on the above characters. I want to screen visually the colour intensity of each individual plant for curcumin content. Please suggest me the required strategy for selection in M1V2 generation.
Dr Coban, what about your opinion? Please suggest me, as it is a vegetatively propagated crop.
Mutations occur at random and cannot be directed in desired way. All genes may mutate, but all the genes or traits are equally mutated is not common. And Mutations for some traits maybe very rare or even may not be found at all. You have to be apply better selection procedure according to your desired traits. this book chapter may be benificial for you: https://books.google.com.tr/books?id=P2ykHQi6RvMC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=curcumin+and+ems+mutation&source=bl&ots=OVN0ld2jR4&sig=k_EXnVOYJujhG8JVa4fEDgrHJOM&hl=tr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEoOCasdLYAhWEKlAKHecOCiUQ6AEILjAA#v=onepage&q=curcumin%20and%20ems%20mutation&f=false I hope you will be find good variety devoloped by mutation
This journals also beneficial for your research.:
1- http://www.chemijournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue4/PartQ/5-4-128-739.pdf
2- Article Variability Induction Studies for Vegetative Characters Thro...
3- http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810036496
Potentially beneficial recessive mutations will hidden by dominant wild type alleles, unless you can find a way to self the crop.
Dr Wallace, flowering occurs in turmeric, but seed set is rare. But selfing is the norm. I will try to collect the seed and raise the seedling progenies.