Vol. 11, Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
V Nandhini, N Manikanda Boopathi, M Raveendran and V Rajasree

Abstract:
Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.), leaves have a significant value for its immense nutritive, therapeutic and other industrial properties, which lead to a unique demand for a cultivar with increased leaf biomass. In this study, the seeds of PKM-1 were chemically mutagenized with 0.25% EMS and desirable leafy mutant lines were selected using leaf morphological traits as well as the genetic variation revealed by SSR markers linked to leafy traits. Assessment of the selected lines showed that 66 to 68% increase in leaf surface area and fresh weight than the wild type, PKM-1. Further, molecular characterization of selected mutant lines by employing GenicSSR890, GenicSSR796, GenicSSR778, GenicSSR859 and GenicSSR983 that are linked to leaf traits such as leaf width, leaf length and fresh weight also revealed the existence of polymorphism when compared with wild type. Improved leaf biomass mutant lines (especially Mutant #22 and Mutant #23) identified in this study were considered as useful lines for further genetic advancement in Moringa through in-vivo and in-vitro techniques, as it may assure a promising way for the release of leafy biomass cultivar that can offer a healthy food supplement and ensure food security.