Effects of Fluence of Low-energy Ion Beam on Mutation Induction of Butterfly Pea

Abstract

Mutation induction in butterfly pea by low-energy nitrogen ion beam at 50 keV was conducted by giving ion fluences (dose) of 1x10¹⁶, 2x10¹⁶, 4x10¹⁶, 8x10¹⁶, or 12x10¹⁶ N-ions.cm^-2 to self-pollinated seeds.  Survival percentage, growth, and qualitative characters of butterfly pea were recorded.  The result showed that ion beams at all fluences did not affect the survival percentage of the seeds.  Only the highest fluence treatment caused variegated and deformed leaves in some plants.  Increased survival percentage was also observed in the highest fluence treatment compared to the vacuum control.  All plants from the highest fluence treatment were grown as M₁ population for further comparison with the wild type population.  Lengths of the 2^nd internode, the 3^rd internode, and mature compound leaf were lower in the M₁ population than in the wild type population.  While number of branches was higher in the M₁ population than in the wild type population.  Additional deviant characters such as leaflet branching, compound leaf variegation, and petal malformation were observed in the M₁ population.  Thus it is possible that there were some mutants in this M₁ population.