African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (5), pp. 534-538, 5 March 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

The effects of sodium azide and colchicine treatments on morphological and yield traits of sesame seed (Sesame indicum L.)

Mensah, J. K.¹*, Obadoni, B. O. ¹ Akomeah, P. A.¹, Ikhajiagbe, B.² and Ajibolu, Janet¹

¹Department of Botany, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.

²Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Abuja, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: mensahmensah@yahoo.com

Accepted 27 December, 2006

Seeds of Sesame (Sesame indicum L.) were exposed to varying concentrations of sodium azide and colchicine solutions ranging from 0 - 0.250% (w/v). Variations in the percentage germination and survival, number of days to maturity, plant heights, total leaf area/plant, chlorophyll content, pollen sterility, dry matter and fruit size were recorded in the C₁ and C₂ generations. The frequency of mutation/injury increased with increasing concentrations of the mutagens. The LC₅₀ values based on survival percentages in the M₁ generation were fixed at 0.0776 and 0.0473% for sodium azide and colchicine respectively. There were dose related effects of the mutagenic treatments on quantitative traits resulting in reductions in traits such as germination and survival percentages, plant height, number of fruit/plant, but increases in leaf area, maturity time and fruit size. Colchicine treatment produced shortened internodes, deformed leaves, and chlorophyll mutants. Low doses of both mutagens (<0.125%) produced early maturing variants and robust/high yields and can be imposed to obtain beneficial mutants in sesame.

Key words: Sodium azide, Colchicine, Sesame, Seeds, Mutagenic effects.