CHEMICAL MUTAGENESIS IN THE CURRANТ (RIBES L.) AND GOOSEBERRY (GROSSULARIA MILL.) SELECTIVE BREEDING

Abstract

The  optimum  solution  concentration  for  the  treatment  of  mutagen  varieties  of  black  currants, red currants and gooseberries is defined within 12 hour exposure as: 0.005% nitrosoethylurea, 0.01% diethyl sulfate, 0.1% ethyleneimine, 0.05% dimethyl sulfate. When using higher concentration of  mutagens  (0.5  to  1%)  along  with  an  increase  in  the  total number  of  mutants,  the  percentage  of plants  with  economic  traits  is  reduced.  If  the  mutagen  solution  concentration  is  1%  the  growth  of browses from apical buds does not occur due to their dieback. The great number of somatic mutations is induced by nitrosoethylurea and diethyl but less by ethyl-enimine  and  dimethyl  sulfate.  Mutant  forms  of  black currants,  red  currants  and  gooseberries  with morphological lamina change and leaf chlorophyll distortion revealed a clear relation to bush yield and mien.