An experiment was conducted to study the phenotypic characterization of mutants from different species of annual chrysanthemum by treating the seeds of different species of Chrysanthemum coronarium (Cco), Chrysanthemum segetum (Cse) and Chrysanthemum carinatum (Cca) with various doses of gamma rays (Cobalt-60) at National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. Immediately after the mutagenic treatment, the nurseries were raised and further transplanted in the field. M₁ population of all three species of Chrysanthemum treated with different doses of gamma rays were screened and characterized. The experimental materials selected for the present investigation consisted of 22 mutant (M₂) lines of species Chrysanthemum coronarium (Cco), 5 mutant lines of species Chrysanthemum segetum (Cse) and 3 mutant lines of species Chrysanthemum carinatum (Cca).Data on phenotypic characterization conducted for various vegetative and floral traits revealed that there is a significant variation among different mutants and all three species of Chrysanthemum used for the study of various phenotypic parameters. Result of quantitative analysis revealed thatin case of species Chrysanthemum coronarium, mutant Co _3-63 had maximum leaf length, flower head weight and number of ray florets whereas leaf width and leaf area was found maximum in mutant Co _11-131. Mutant Co _2-5 and mutant Co _5-55 showed maximum flower head diameter, ray floret weight and ray floret length, ray floret width respectively. However, mutant Co _11-56 had maximum flower head weight. In species Chrysanthemum segetum, mutant S _4-9 had maximum flower head diameter and disc floret weight whereas mutant S _4-6 had maximum ray floret weight and a greater number of disc florets. Among the flowering characters like flower head height, number of flowers per plant and flower head weight, mutants, S _1-14 and S _1-5 performed well. In the species Chrysanthemum carinatum, mutant C _13-1 showed the best results with respect to vegetative and flowering characters as it had maximum leaf width, leaf area, number of ray florets, flower head weight and flower head height. However, mutant C _15-1 had maximum ray floret weight.

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