EFFECTS OF SODIUM AZIDE ON GROWTH, MORPHOLGY AND CYTOLOGY OF SOYBEAN (GLYCINE MAX (L) Merr)

Abstract

Seeds of three varieties of Soybean (Glycine max) (GTX 1448, GTX 1019, and SAMSOY II) were subjected to mutagenic treatment using Sodium Azide at concentrations of 0.5mM, 1.0mM, 1.5mM, 2.0mM, 3.0mM, and 4.0mM. Another set of seeds were soaked in distilled water and buffer solution of pH 3 and used as control treatment. These were planted in polythene bags in rows of five by five columns in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications of each treatment. The plant attributes measured were germination percentage, seedling survival, seedling root length, seedling height, height at maturity, number of days to 50% flowering, number of fruits per plant and percentage lethality. Germination was found to be significantly (p = 0.05) higher in the control and decreased with increasing mutagen concentration for all three varieties. Seedling survival, seedling height, seedling root length and height at maturity also followed similar pattern. Number of days to 50% flowering was lowest at 2.0mM concentration for the three varieties and highest at 4.0mM concentration. 2.0mM concentration also produced the highest number of pods while 4.0mM concentration produced the lowest for the three varieties. Sterile mutants were also observed at higher concentration of 4.0mM. Cytological studies revealed no chromosomal aberration in all concentrations and varieties studied. The increased yield and early maturity recorded at 2.0mM concentration for the three varieties are important agronomic traits that could be utilized for subsequent improvement of Soyabean.