GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF SOME ORNAMENTAL PLANTS THROUGH MUTATION INDUCTION

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra-Elkheima, Egypt and Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt during the period from 2013 to 2020 to improve two ornamental plants traits using mutation induction. The two plants used in this study were; Calendula officinalis L. (Pot marigold) and Antirrhinum majus (Snapdragon). The importance of these plants is due to their use as an economic crops. They grow as a flowering bedding plants, a cut flowers or pot plants. In addition, they are used in human medicine, veterinary medicine. They contain chemical substances such as chlorophylls, carotinoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds. They have the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The experiment was applied as the following steps: 1. Seeds of the two plants were submitted to gamma rays from the Cobalt-60 source in the Atomic Energy Authority, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. Seeds of Calendula were exposed to 0, 25, 50 and 70 Gy, and of Antirrhinum to 40, 60, 80 Gy gamma rays. 2. Three concentrations of colchicine or EMS with 1000, 3000, 10000 ppm were used with the seeds of the two plants. 3. Some yield-related traits were measured at flowering time. All measurements were taken on untreated and treated plants. 4. Therapeutic properties of Calendula and Antirrhinum are exceptional which determined by the complex of biologically active substances in leaves and petals: as chlorophylls, carotenoids, flavonoid, anthocyanin and phenolic compound.