RADIATION INDUCED MUTATION FOR IMPROVING PAPAYA VARIETY IN VIETNAM

A papaya breeding program was initiated at the Southern Fruit Research Institute, Vietnam in 2006 using gamma rays to induce mutation.
Germinated seeds of popular local papaya variety Dai Loan Tim were irradiated with gamma rays ranging from 10 to 60 Gy.
Radio sensitivity test of germinated seeds showed that LD₅₀ was 30 Gy, two doses below LD₅₀ value viz.
Ten and 20 were selected for field planting.
A total 1000 M1 plants were planted and screened in the field.
Among these, four mutant plants, which were particularly outstanding in vigor with medium dwarf stature, bearing the first flower at a height of 50-60 cm from the ground and improved fruit quality when compared to control were selected.
The average fruit weight of four mutant lines ranged from 1.3-1.9 kg/fruit, average total soluble solids from 10.8-11.6 Brix %. Usefulness of these economic mutants for improving precocity and reducing plant height in papaya breeding program is discussed.

II International Symposium on Papaya

N.T. Nhat Hang, N.M. Chau

breeding, mutation, seed irradiation, gamma rays

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.851.8