QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF INDUCED MACROMUTANTS IN FENNEL (FOENICULUM VULGARE MILL.)

Macromutants namely, thick stem, slender stem, pigmented stem, dwarf, elongated pinnae, narrow pinnae and early flowering are screened at M2 generation (total plants screened -1575) following exposure of dry seeds (moisture content -9.3%) of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Family: Umbelliferae) to different doses/concentrations of γ-irradiations and EMS.Selfed lines of the mutants are evaluated in M6 generation in comparison to control considering eight phenotypic traits (plant height, number of primary branches/plant, total branches/plant, number of compound umbels/plant, number of umbels/plant, number of umbellets of first inflorescence, seed yield and harvest index).Statistical test (Duncan's test at 5% level of significance) reveal that thick stem mutant is a promising mutant for direct use; while, the rest may be exploited by efficient breeding.