Development of non-narcotic (opiumless and alkaloid-free) opium poppy, Papaver somniferum

A mutation breeding programme using gamma rays and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) was carried out for genetic conversion of narcotic 'opium poppy' int o non-narcotic 'seed poppy'. Two families contained 31 latexless (opiumless ) and 23 partial latex-bearing plants which were identified in the M-2 and confirmed in the M-3 generations by the 'ray-pluck' method. Thin-layer chro matography (TLC)-densitometry of powdered capsule hulls (straw) from 22 rep resentative plants also revealed that none of the five opium alkaloids (mor phine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and narcotine) was present in the stra w. Six plants also possessed high seed yield (4.0-5.66 g/capsule vs. 3.39 g for control) and seven had a high seed oil content (50.7-53.5%). The best mutant genotype, LL-34 of the family C-1-Comb-113-2, with 5.66 g/capsule se eds containing 52.6% oil was designated as cv. 'Sujata: This, perhaps the w orld's first opiumless and alkaloid-free seed poppy cultivar, offers a chea p and permanent (fundamental) solution to the global problem of opium-linke d social abuse. Simultaneously, it serves as a safe and potential food crop with protein-rich seeds and healthy unsaturated seed oil.