A STUDY ON KING GRASS (PENNISETUM-PURPUREUM SP) MUTANTS OBTAINED BY NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES AND CHEMICAL MUTAGENS .1. ESTABLISHMENT

Mutants of king grass (Pennisetum purpureum sp) obtained by nuclear te chniques (CUBA MF 1000, 12,18,24,30,40 and 50) and chemical mutagens ( CUBA MQ 1 and 2) were studied in a random block design with 4 replicat ions. Peroxidases and esterases showed a marked enzymatic polymorfism and differences in number, position and intensity of the bands were fo und. 20 days after sowning, germination of CUBA MF 12 and CUBA MQ 1 ex celled the control, while at 50 days, except for CUBA MF 18 and 30, th e values were higher (P < 0.001) than the control. Plant height at 20 days was superior (P < 0.001) in CUBA MF 1000, 12, CUBA MQ 1 and 2 and only CUBA MF 1000 excelled (P < 0.001) king grass at 50 days, however at 90 days no differences were found with the control treatment. The lowest growth (P < 0.05) was for CUBA MF 30 and varied from 1.16 to 2. 05 cm/day. CUBA MF 50 showed the lowest number of sprouts (3.14) at 90 days (P < 0.05) while at 20 and 50 days no differences were encounter ed. CUBA MF 30 showed a more delayed establishment while CUBA MF 1000, 12 and CUBA MQ 1 were promisory plants during establishment.