IMPROVEMENT OF EUGENOL AND METHYL EUGENOL CONTENT IN OCIMUM SANCTUM L.

Ocimum sanctum L. is a rich source of essential oil. The present investigation, attempts to induce mutations for high quality of oil, eugenol and methyl eugenol contents by treating seeds of Oscimum sanctum L. with gamma rays, Ethyl methane sulphone (EMS) and Sodium azide (SA).

The Screening of M2 and M3 populations, resulted in the isolation of mutants showing alteration in oil content and amount of eugenol and methyl eugenol. In control seeds, the oil content varied between 14.8 to 16.9% and eugenol and methyl eugenol contents from 5o to 63% and 17 to 19%, respectively. All the three mutagens were found to induce the variability in total oil eugenol and methyl eugenol contents. In M2 and M3. generations, mutants with high oil, high eugenol and high methyl eugenol contents were isolated. The maximum methyl eugenol content was found to be 21.00% in mutant number 6.9. This mutant was isolated from M2. populations of SA treatment. In some mutants, the increase in methyl eugenol content was relatively less, however, the increase in eugenol content was substantial. Most of these biochemical mutants were isolated in M2population, three mutants were also expressed in M3 generations.