A STUDY OF KING GRASS (PENNISETUM-PURPUREUM SP) MUTANTS OBTAINED BY NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES AND CHEMICAL MUTAGENS .3. AGRONOMICAL INDICATORS

The agronomical indicators of king grass (Pennisetum purpureum) mutant s obtained through the application of nuclear techniques (CUBA MF 1000 , 12, 18, 24, 30, 40 and 50) and chemical mutagens (CUBA MQ 1 and 2) w ere studied using a random block design with 4 replications. The great est height (P<0.01) was attained by CUBA MQ2 (228 cm) during the dry s eason, while in the rainy season only CUBA MF 12, 24 and 40 were small er (P<0.05) than king grass. In the dry season none of the mutants dif fered from the control in density and in the rainy season only the CUB A MF 40 (53.95 kg/ha/cm) was smaller (P<0.05). Four of the mutants sur passed the control (P<0.01) in leaf dry matter percentage with values of 26.54 and 27.38% during the dry season, while for stem and the whol e plant, differences were less marked. The weight of 10 plants differe d with a range of values between 1.70 to 3.20 and between 4.07 to 6.70 kg for the mutants in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively, compar ed to 1.55 and 5.70 kg for king grass in the same seasons. There were differences (P<0.001) in blooming percentage with values between 0 to 90% for the mutants (95% For the control). CUBA MF 1000, 12, 18, 24, C UBA MQ 1 and 2 were promisory, although further studies on quality and management are necessary.