Morphological characterization and expression analysis of genes for antioxidants enzymes in gamma rays induced M3 mutants of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivar TNAUSUF-7

Purpose Objectives of the present investigation were to investigate the performance of mutant lines (mutant generation 3 (M3) generation) of sunflower obtained through gamma irradiations for yield and yield attributing traits including oil content (%), oil quality in terms of antioxidant activity and to investigate the expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes in control and gamma irradiated M3 lines.Materials and methods Mutant lines (M3 generation) of sunflower variety TNAUSUF-7 obtained from 100 and 130 Gray (Gy) doses of gamma irradiation were evaluated for several traits such as days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, head diameter, number of filled seeds and unfilled seeds per head, fertility %, oil content %, antioxidant activity of oil and expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes. All the data were analyzed using different statistical tools.Results Our results showed that the gamma irradiation dose of 100 and 130 Gy induced significant variations in yield and yield attributing traits especially for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, fertility %, antioxidant property of sunflower seed oil and expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes.Conclusions From our results, it can be concluded that the gamma irradiations were effective in creating variations in terms of several traits in sunflower. Many desirable traits like reduced days to 50% flowering and maturity, increased fertility %, increased antioxidant activity of oil were observed in M3 lines. These M3 lines have the potential to be utilized as an inbred line in sunflower hybrid development or it could be used as a source of desirable traits in sunflower breeding programs.