In vitro Mutation of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev) with Ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS) in Immature Floral Pedicels

Many new cultivars of chrysanthemum were derived from induced mutation. However, chemical mutagenic agents are not widely used due to their low penetration into plant tissues. The objective of the present study was to induce mutation in chrysanthemum using ethylmethanesulphonate (EMS) in immature floral pedicels, followed by the induction and production of adventitious buds in vitro. Preliminary studies on the sensitivity of pedicels to EMS revealed that the LD50 was close to 0.82% (v/v). Immature pedicels of chrysanthemum cv. Ingrid (dark pink color) were treated with 0.77% (0.075 M) EMS solution for 1 h and 45 min, which was followed by rinsing in water for 15 min and surface disinfection. Afterwards, they were cultivated in Murashige and Skoog medium (salts and vitamins) amended with 1 g l⁻¹ of hydrolyzed casein, 1 mg l⁻¹ 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2 mg l⁻¹ indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). A total of 910 plants were obtained from the pedicels treated with EMS and were evaluated at the flowering stage. Forty-eight mutants (5.2%) were obtained, deviating in petal color (pink-salmon, light-pink, bronze, white, yellow and salmon color). Most of them (89.6% of the total) were phenotypically uniform. The results showed the efficiency of EMS to induce in vitro mutation of chrysanthemum.