Page 477 - e-Book

pod (figure 4); mutant exhibit shorter pods than the control and dwarf curved pods (figure 5);

small sized seeds and discoloured seeds (figure 6). The frequency of mutants observed is
more at high concentration of cadmium.

SEM studies:
Detailed features of the examined material are summarized in the figure 7. SEM is used for

the study of surface morphology and physiological state of plant leaves. Replicas revealed the
outline of epidermal cells as well as guard cells enabling the measurement of guard cell size.

The size of guard cells of mutated leaves differs significantly from the control one. Stomatal

aperture width and length were measured whereas the replicas of open stomata displayed
intrusions into the sub stomatal cavity, lacking in closed stomata. The length and width of

stomatal aperture of control is 10.874µm and 1.467µm (figure 7a.) and decreases in mutated

ones i.e., 9.064 µm and 1.226 µm (figure 7b.) and 3.942 µm and 1.002 µm (figure 7c).
Quantitative attributes

In the current study, the mean values of all the quantitative parameters of M1 generation at
significant value (p˂0.05) decreased with increasing concentration of metal. The qualitative

and quantitative traits of control and mutagenized population of fenugreek is illustrated in
figure 8. Plant height decreased significantly from 87.45 – 69.32 cm in 20-100ppm cadmium

at p˂0.05 as compared to control one (92.50 cm). The significant reduction in number of

branches per plant was observed 2.50 at 100ppm at p˂0.05 compared to control (3.23). The
highest concentration (100 ppm) for the branches per plant differs significantly from the

control. Total number of pods per plant decreased significantly 14.8-12.2 in 20-100ppm at
p˂0.05 to that of control. Cadmium triggered a significant decrease was recorded in total

number of seeds per pod from lower to higher concentration at p˂0.05 is 9.6- 6.6 to that of
control. The highest mean values for the 1000 seed weight were recorded in 20ppm (10.78g)

and decreases significantly upto 7.89g at p˂0.05 in 100ppm Cd. Total yield per plant

decreased significantly at p˂0.05 from 20-100ppm of which 60 ppm, 80ppm and 100ppm
with 1.16, 0.97 and 0.88 respectively differs significantly from the control.

467