Evaluation of canola mutant lines (Brassica napus. L) comparing to their parents in order to select superior lines

Mutation breeding in order to create mutations and diversity in crop genetics structure have been used in breeding for many years. In this study, to determine the induced genetic variation and select lines with desirable agronomic traits, 16 rapeseed mutant lines from three rapeseed cultivars Talayeh, Zarfam and Express obtained through gamma radiation with 800, 900 and 1200 gray dose rates followed by 7 selfing generation. These cultivars were compared in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Traits such as plant height, number of pod in main branch, secondary branches and the whole plant, number of branches, the length of main branch, number of seeds per major and minor pod, first pod height from the ground, stem diameter, length of main and secondary pods, days to flowering, end of flowering, days to maturity, grain weight, yield, oil content seeds and oil yield was evaluated. The highest variation coefficient of the number of pods per branch (19/23 percent) was in the Zarfam mutant lines. The mutant line, Z-800-6 had highest grain and oil yield compared to control Zarfam. The mutant line T-800-6 showed the largest grain and oil yield compared to control Talayeh and mutant E-900-1 had the highest grain and oil yield compared to control Express. Among all the lines and cultivars Z-800-6 with best kernel yield (5277kg ha-1) were considered as superior mutant lines.