Mutagenic Effects on the Growth, Reproductive and Yield Parameters of Praecitrullus fistulosus

The aim of this study was to modify the growth, reproductive and yield parameters of Praecitrullusfistulosus by mutagenesis. The seeds of the plant were treated with chemical mutagens including ethidiumbromide and colchicine in concentration of (0.05 and 0.10%) and (0.01 and 0.02%), respectively. Seedswere also treated with UV rays at periods of 1 and 2 h and X-rays for 75 KeV at periods of 5 and 10 sec.The growth features were observed at an interval of one week till the 11th week of their growth period.The data showed that seed germination value and lethality (%) of plants were 80 and 75%, respectivelyand highest in control plants. The time of seed germination (1.6 days) was least in plants treated withX-rays (10 sec). The mutation frequency (80%) was found to be highest in X-rays (10 sec) and colchicine0.02%. The vegetative growth parameters such as stem length (77 cm), length of leaves (6.6 cm), averagenumber of leaves (36) and leaf surface area (49.6 cm2) was highest against ethidium bromide 0.01%,colchicine 0.02%, ethidium bromide 0.10% and UV rays 1 h, respectively. While the average diameter ofstem of control plants was highest (49.6 cm2). The minimum flowering time (31 days) and fruiting time(42.5 days) were observed in ethidium bromide 0.05% and colchicine 0.01% treated plants. The highestnumber of fruits (4) was observed in colchicine 0.01% treated plants. In conclusion, seeds of P. fistulosustreated with ethidium bromide and colchicine caused positive impact on growth, reproduction and yieldattributes as compared to UV and X-rays treatments.