# Gamma rays and sodium azide induced variations in bio-physiological and agronomical traits in linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.)

## TL;DR

This study shows that low doses of gamma rays and sodium azide can improve linseed's yield and traits, creating useful mutants for breeding.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that mutagen treatments can enhance linseed's yield and genetic variability for breeding purposes.

## Key findings

- Lower doses of gamma rays and sodium azide increased yield and yield-attributing traits in some linseed mutants.
- Combination treatments caused greater declines in bio-physiological parameters than individual treatments.
- High-yielding mutants show potential as genetic resources for linseed improvement programs.

## Abstract

Linseed is a valuable oilseed crop with huge therapeutic importance due to its high content of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). It is a self-pollinated crop with a low-yielding potential that restricts its improvement endeavors. To overcome low-yielding potential, individual and combination treatments of gamma rays and sodium azide were employed in widely grown linseed varieties. The results revealed a dose-dependent decline in seed germination, seedling height, pollen fertility, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents and a dose-independent decline in carbonic anhydrase activity. Bio-physiological parameters decreased substantially in combination treatments compared to individual treatments of gamma rays and sodium azide. In contrast, lower doses of gamma rays, sodium azide, and their combinations effectively increased mean values of yield and yield-attributing traits in a few putative mutants. Such putative mutants represent a valuable genetic resource that could be used in future breeding programs for the genetic improvement of linseed and related medicinal plants.

•The high-yielding mutant lines of linseed developed in the present study could serve as valuable genetic resources in crop improvement programs.•Lower doses of gamma rays and sodium azide effectively increased the mean values of important traits.•Mutagens increased the genotypic coefficient of variability, heritability, and genetic advance in high-yielding mutant lines.

The high-yielding mutant lines of linseed developed in the present study could serve as valuable genetic resources in crop improvement programs.

Lower doses of gamma rays and sodium azide effectively increased the mean values of important traits.

Mutagens increased the genotypic coefficient of variability, heritability, and genetic advance in high-yielding mutant lines.