Radiosensitivity and phenotypic characterization of gamma ray-induced mutant population of four Capsicum annuum L. cultivars grown in screen house

Efforts to increase Capsicum annuum L. production can be done by inducing mutations with gamma ray irradiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the growth response of seedlings for survival rate after gamma ray irradiation and to characterize the phenotypes of four chili cultivars grown in a screen house. The phenotypic characterization was conducted at 28 weeks after planting in the screen house. Gamma ray irradiation affected all cultivar growth as reflected by increasing irradiation dose that reduced the survival rate. The LD50 values obtained were 372.63, 373.78, 373.78, and 499.03 Gy for Tanjung-2, Kencana, Kopay, and Anies cultivars, respectively. Plant habitus and leaf morphology was carried out according to the Capsicum descriptor from IPGRI using ten wild-type plants and 3 of Tanjung-2 and Kencana, 13 of Kopay, and 20 mutant candidates of Anies cultivars. The results showed that as compared to their wild-type plants, according to the Capsicum descriptor, the mutant candidates differed in stem color, nodal anthocyanin, stem shape, plant height, plant canopy average, branching habit, leaf density, and leaf shape. In contrast, the diameter of the stems, plant growth habit, presence of tillers, color, edge, length, and width of the leaves of wild type and mutant candidates were similar.