Genetic diversity of marigold (Tagetes patula L.) mutant treated by induced mutation with gamma rays irradiation

French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family and is classified as an annual plant.
This plant is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for cut flowers, potted plants, bedding plants, or landscape purposes.
This study aimed to examine the genetic diversity and heritability of the characters observed in the M₁ and M₂ generation to obtain potential candidates of positive mutant plants for further development.
MG021 genotype was used as genetic material in this study which was induced by gamma-ray mutagen at doses of 400, 500, 600, and 700 Gy to make the M₁ population.
M₂ generation seeds were produced from M₁ plants and observed to evaluate the genetic diversity and heritability.
The wild type (M0) was used as an M₁ and M₂ generation test.
The results showed that induced mutation with gamma ray irradiation could produce quantitative and qualitative morphological character genetic diversity in M₁ and M₂ generations.
High genetic diversity of the characters was found in the marigold M₂ generation.
The potential putative mutants were found in 32 plants as ornamental bedding plants, three as cut flowers, and 11 as potted ornamentals.
Marigold plant M₂ generation irradiated by 600 and 700 Gy had shorter morphological diversity and color changes that led to yellow.
A bright red potential putative mutant plant was found from the M₂ generation treated by 500 Gy in as many as six plants.
The dark red potential mutant plants were found in one plant from the M₂ generation irradiated by 500 Gy (plant number 45) and two from the M2 generation irradiated by 600 Gy (plant numbers 38 and 44).

IV Asian Horticultural Congress – AHC2023

S.I. Aisyah, E.R. Simarmata, H. Rusmiyati, D. Sukma, D.N. Suprapta, M. Syukur

M₁ and M₂ generation, ornamental plant, putative mutant

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1404.82