Gamma radiation on seeds of natal grass [Melinis repens

Induced mutagenesis through gamma radiation generates structural and chemical changes in plants. This study evaluated the morphological and nutritional variability of natal grass [Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka] plants produced from seed irradiated with gamma radiation. Natal grass seed was collected from wild populations in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. The seed was exposed to a source of Co.sup.60 . The radiation doses were: 0, 10, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350 Gray (Gy). Sixty-six first generation mutant genotypes (M1), produced from irradiated seed, and nine non-mutant genotypes (M0), developed from non-irradiated seed (0 Gy), were evaluated. For the morphological characterization, 18 variables were measured on the plants when they were at the reproductive stage. The nutritional analysis was performed on the M0, as well as on a group of plants from the M1, which resulted morphologically different (p