Nandini, RCHITTI, BHARATKUMAR2017-08-262017-08-262015-12-12Th-11292http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810029733Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterrnea L. (Verdc.) termed as a potential crop of future is said to have its origin in Africa. It is considered to be a completely balanced food rich in protein (25-28%) and quantitatively superior to other pulses due to essential amino acids methionine and lysine. The present investigation was undertaken to utilize mutation breeding to genetically improve the self pollinated underexploited protein rich crop. The objectives of the study include determination of LD50 value, genotypic sensitivity, effectiveness and efficiency of EMS and isolation of economically important lines in two varieties of Bambara groundnut SB-42 and S-165A.The seeds were treated with EMS concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 per cent. EMS concentration of 0.3 per cent was determined to be LD50 value for both the varieties. Comparing the mutagenic effect on various biological parameters S-165A was more sensitive than SB-42. At 0.3 per cent EMS concentration a higher number of chlorophyll mutations were recorded compared to other treatments. Morphological mutations in SB-42 were identified to be more than in the variety S-165A.In M1 generation a negative shift in plant height was observed per cent mean over control in all concentrations of EMS. In M2 generation, days to flowering, number of pods per plant, pod yield per plant, seed yield per plant and shelling percentage exhibited a higher per cent increase over control. Based on Chisquare test for yellow mosaic virus disease resistance, the resistance was governed by single recessive gene and mutant families F-91, F-94, F-35, F-92, F-105 in SB-42 and F- 9,F-86,F-1, F-7 and F-19 in S-165A families exhibited tolerance to yellow mosaic virus disease under natural conditions. Variability for characters like number of plants per plant, pod yield per plant and seed yield per plant in M3 generation was higher and mutant families F-62, F-82, F-105, F-35 in SB-42 and F-7, F-14, F-9, F-1 in S-165A recorded high yield, high protein and high methionine content.ennullThesis