Short Culm and Early Maturing Mutants Induced by Gamma Irradiation in Rice I . Mutation Rate and Variability

For selection of mutants two rice varieties, Sangpungbyeo and Seomjinbyeo, were irradiated with 20 kR and 25 kR of gamma rays. One panicle per each plant was harvested in Ml, and single needling per hill was planted for M2 and M3 generations. Mutations for short culm, earliness and the major traits were examined. 1. The mutation rates were varied with the rice varieties and the doses of radiation, higher in Sangpungbyeo and 25kR than in Seomjinbyeo and 20 kR, respectively. 2. The rates in Sangpungbyeo with the 20 kR and 25 kR were 1.10％ and 1.47％. respectively and those of Seomjinbyeo were 0.51％ and 1.25％, respectively. 3. The culm lengths of short-culm mutants derived from Sangpungbyeo and Seomjinbyeo were reduced about 10％ compared to their mother varieties, especially it was possible to select the dwarf mutants reducing 57％ and 40％ of culm length in Sangpungbyeo and Seomjinbyeo, respectively with the dose of 25 kR irradiation. 4. The range of heading date of the mutant ion in the M3 generation was comparatively wide. Many earliness mutants shortened about 7 days were selected as compared with their mother varieties, some mutants of the irradiated group had early matured by 20 days and 30 days, respectively in both Seomjinbyeo and Sangpungbyeo.