Biochemical characterization of gamma-ray induced mutants in mango

The volatile compound (VC) compositions of putative mutants were estimated and compared with the untreated seedlings and mother plants of mango genotype Bappakkai. Sesquiterpenes were the major VC detected in mother plants, control plants and putative mutant samples viz., BM4, BM5 and BM6, while, monoterpenes dominated the volatile fractions of other three putative mutant samples. A positive and significantly high correlation between all the mother plants, between mother plants and control seedlings as well as between the control seedlings, suggests a high level of similarity or lack of variability between mother plants and control seedlings, indicating that they might be of nucellar origin. Hence, we conclude that volatile profiling can be used as a biochemical marker for characterization and validation of putative mutants in polyembryonic mango genotypes.