RAINA, R.KUMARI, BANDANA2016-11-182016-11-182013http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/86268ABSTRACT The present studies, “Evaluation of M1 progeny of Swertia chirayita (Roxb. ex. Flem.) Karst. for morphological and yield parameters”(2011-2013) was in continuation to the earlier study, “ Studies on induction of mutations in Swertia chirayita which was conducted during 2009-2011 by a preceding student. The present studies focused on the impact of the gamma doses tested (2-30 kr at a dose interval of 2kr) on the growth performance of main shoot and beyond upto complete senescence. Some of the gamma ray doses had a promotory effect on plant height (78.66 to 81.72 cm in comparison to 68.22cm in control), no. of leaves per plant (102.27 to 113.27 leaves in comparison to 79.24 no. of leaves in control), leaf length (13.64 to 13.8 cm in 6 and 8 kr doses in comparison to 12.12 cm in control), leaf width (5.0 to 5.46 cm in 6, 8 and 14 kr doses in comparison to 4.31 cm in control) and no. of costae per lamina (in comparison to average no. of 7.28 in control and 12, 16, 22 and 24 kr treatments exhibited 7.95 to 10). Higher stomatal index (8.85 to 10.97) in comparison to 8.7 in untreated plants was observed in some of the treatments. Lower pollen viability (12.98 to 75.88%) was observed in all those M1 plants that produced flowers (84.7% in control). Light brown seed (48.33% germination) were observed in one plant impacted by 14 kr dose in addition to normal dark brown seed (70 to 71.67% germination). The flowering duration was extended upto November/December in 14 kr and 22 kr treatment (August to October in other treatments as well as untreated plants). Eight induced variants based on morphological and growth features like (A) plants with suckering habit showing perennial nature, (B) plants without main shoot development, (C) lamina bifurcation, (D) leathery textured lamina, (E) whorl of 3 leaves at a node (as against a pair of such leaves under normal condition), (F) plants with more no. of costae per lamina, (G) flower colour change) and (H) vigorous plants were identified. Amarogentin content in cauline leaves of variants A, B, D, G and H showed an increase (0.237-0.304% in comparison to untreated plants 0.146%) and only variant H showed an increase in amaroswerin content(0.308%) in comparison to untreated ones (0.125%). In stems, amarogentin content increase in variants A, C, D, G and H (0.208 to 0.305%) in comparison to untreated ones (0.166%) and only variant D(0.107%) and F (0.054%) showed an increase over untreated plants (0.034%) for amaroswerin content. In roots only variants G and H (0.045% and 0.069%) showed an increase in amarogentin content (0.021% in control) and variants A, B, C, G and H showed increase in amaroswerin content (0.007% in control).enThesis