GENETIC DIVERSITY OF POLLEN MORPHOLOGY AND POLLEN PRODUCTION OF CORCHORUS OLITORIUS USING DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF STRONG HYPOCHLORITE SOLUTION

Abstract

Mutations were induced in Corchorus olitorius using sodium hypochlorite. The Corchorus olitorius seeds were treated with 0%, 25%, 50% and 75% solution of sodium hypochlorite so as to assess their effects on pollen viability, pollen production and pollen diameter. Results showed that the pollen parameters were significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). It was observed that as the concentrations of sodium hypochlorite increases, the values of pollen viability, pollen production and pollen diameter also increased. This may essentially affect productivity positively. Therefore, sodium hypochlorite could be used to induced genetic variability in the pollen of Corchorus olitorius, and this could be exploited for the improvement of the crop in Nigeria.