Mutation induction in Ocimum basilicum L. by fast neutron irradiation and opportunity of in vitro propagation of valuable mutant

Abstract

In order to create an Ocimum basilicum variety that is resistant to damaging environmental conditions, fast neutron irradiation was performed on the commercial variety seeds with doses of 5 to 60 Gray and grown into fully developed plants. The mutants' relationship to the used variety and the fingerprinting profiles were molecularly detected with ISSR markers. Then two efficient and rapid in vitro propagations of the multipurpose herb, Ocimum basilicum, using both commercial seeds and culture of nodal segments with axillary buds from irradiated spontaneous mutants have been accomplished.