Biochemical characterisation of induced variants of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Gamma rays at dose rates of 20 Gy and 40 Gy were used for induction of variants for late blight resistance in two popular indian cultivars of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) viz., Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Chandramukhi. The field grown variants were assayed biochemically for the enzymes peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenols. Peroxidase enzyme activity increased in the prospective mutants which showed resistance, whereas, polyphenol oxidase activity did not vary from the control, indicating that this enzyme was not linked to resistance phenomenon.