Optimizing ethyl methanesulphonate for mutagenesis of selected tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] genotypes
Abstract The study aimed to identify optimal ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) dose and soaking duration to induce genetic variation in selected founder tef (Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) cultivars. Study conducted using a 3 × 5 × 4 factorial experiment with seeds from three founder cultivars (Emerson...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-12610-6 |
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| Summary: | Abstract The study aimed to identify optimal ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) dose and soaking duration to induce genetic variation in selected founder tef (Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) cultivars. Study conducted using a 3 × 5 × 4 factorial experiment with seeds from three founder cultivars (Emerson, Highveld and Ivory), five EMS doses (0.00%, 0.50%, 1.00%, 1.50% and 2.50%) and four soaking durations (1, 2, 4 and 8 h). Data were collected on M1 to M3 derivatives on the following parameters: germination percentage, days to 50% emergence, seedling survival, seedling height, root length and number of tillers. Ideal EMS dose of 2.11% and 4-hour soaking duration were discerned at M1 and used in large-scale mutagenesis, enabling the development of M2 and M3 generations. There were significant (p < 0.001) interactions of cultivar × dose, cultivar × soaking duration, and dose × soaking duration for germination percentage, days to 50% emergence, seedling survival percentage and shoot height. EMS dose had a highly significant (p < 0.001) effect on all assessed traits except root length. Study identified following EMS mutagenesis conditions as ideal for tested founder cultivars: 1.67% at 4-hours soaking duration Emerson, 2.97% at 4-hours soaking duration Highveld and 1.67% at 4-hours soaking duration Ivory. |
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| ISSN: | 2045-2322 |