Mutagenesis of laser radiation on DNA and agronomic traits in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The variation that exists within living plants and animals, is the result of natural mutation at the DNA level, with subsequent recombination and selection occurring, much of it over millions of years. The aim of this study is to create genetic changes in chick pea plants using laser radiation. Laser radiation can cause changes (morphological and physiological) in plants with their high permeability. In this experiment, laser lights: ND:YAG with a wavelength of 530 nm, helium-neon laser with a wavelength of 632 and UV laser with a wavelength 308 nm were used on seed of “ILC482” variety of chickpea. After irradiation and planting the seeds (m1), characters: days to germination, days to flowering and podding, percent of germination, total number of pods, number of stem, number of empty and full pods, number of seeds , 100 KW weight, plant height, plant dry weight and grain yield per plant were measured. M1 seeds and control were planted in the next generation (M2) and above traits were measured. At the first generation the results showed that in the three traits (height, number of empty pods and dry weight) there is no difference between treatments. But in other characters, the treatments were differed in compared to control at first and second generation. In general, radiation reduced the characters in comparison to control. Molecular analysis confirmed the mutations occurred in DNA by the laser radiation.