Rapd analysis of Ems Mutagenised mulberry genotype rfs135

EMS is a monofunctional-ethylating potent chemical mutagen, found to be mutagenic in wide variety of genetic test systems from viruses to mammals.EMS causes base-pair insertion or deletions and more extensive intragenic deletions in higher organisms. The alkyl group of an alkylating agent reacts with DNA that leads to change in the nucleotide sequence, thus resulting in point mutation. EMS is found to be more effective and safe for use in mulberry. In present investigation, the active bud sprouts of the mulberry genotype RFS135 was treated with EMS (0.1% and 0.3%) intermittently for the duration of twelve hours. The biological effects of EMS on the total genomic DNA of the treated plants were studied through RAPD technique. The M1V2 variant clones obtained from the plants treated with 0.1% and 0.3% concentrations of EMS revealed polymorphs of significantly variable size of different base pairs for two random primers used (OPW-04/05), thus indicating probable changes in the molecular characters of the total genomic DNA. Analysis of RAPD revealed genetic variation between control and EMS induced clones. Mutants screened at 0.1% and 0.3% showed higher levels of genetic variation and more unique alleles compared to the control due to EMS induced mutation.