Assessment of the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate, Sodium Azide and Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride in the Induction of Chlorophyll Mutations in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Abstract

Ethyl Methane Sulphonate, Sodium Azide and Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride were assessed through chlorophyll mutation analysis in the second mutant generation for spectrum, frequency and their corresponding potential in successful inducement of useful mutations in cowpea. The results showed that EMS produced the highest number of mutations followed by SA and HH in that order. The Mutagen Efficiency was strongest at Ethyl Methane Sulphonate at dose 0.1% for all the genotypes treated and also for all the genotypes treated with Sodium Azide and Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride. Sodium Azide on the other hand produced the best mutagen effectiveness at dose 0.01%. The average mutagen effectiveness was higher in Sodium Azide treated cowpea than Ethyl Methane Sulphonate and Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride explants. Ethyl Methane Sulphonate had better average mutagen efficiency than Sodium Azide and Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride. It is therefore concluded that considering the mutagens and doses deployed in this study, Sodium Azide is more effective and produces more mutations than Ethyl Methane Sulphonate and Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride. However, Ethyl Methane Sulphonate is more efficient and produces less deleterious effects and produces much more chlorophyll mutations. This makes it a better mutagen than Sodium Azide and Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride for cowpea.