STUDY OF MUTAGENIC EFFICIENCY OF NMU IN WINGED BEAN (PSOPHOCARPUS TETRAGONOLOBUS (L) DC.)

The seeds of winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.) variety namely EC 38955 (A) was treated with a chemical mutagen Nitrosomethyl urea (NMU). The effectiveness and efficiency of mutagen was determined by observing frequency of mutations induced by mutagenic treatment. It is concluded that as concentration of mutagen increased gradual reduction in effectiveness. The mutagenic efficiency increased with increase in concentration of mutagen. The mutation rates were calculated taking into consideration the mean values of efficiency for each treatment. Taking into consideration of lethality and sterility, variations in mutation rates were recorded.