Evaluation of effects, inheritance patterns and gene number prediction controlling plant height and root length of colchicine treated fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Fennel seeds were treated with varying colchicine concentrations (0, 0.0125, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 % w/v) for 24 and 48 hours and then planted in a garden using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) method. The colchicine dose (0.05 % w/v) enhanced fennel height (Tall) after 24 h of exposure compared to the other doses, while all the doses showed a better effect (Longer) for root length than control (Long) after 24 h of exposure. At 48 h of exposure colchicine doses (0.025 and 0.05 % w/v) increased the fennel height (Tall) compared to the other doses. Also, doses (0.0125, 0.025 and 0.05 % w/v) enhanced the root length (Longer) compared to the control treatment after 48 h of exposure. Inheritance pattern of fennel height and root length were estimated using Chi-square test. It was estimated complementary inheritance (9:7) pattern for fennel height at all doses after 24 h of exposure. Colchicine dose (0.2 % w/v) showed both complementary and duplicate dominance inheritance (11:5) pattern for fennel height after 48 h of exposure. All doses exhibited complementarity for root length, but 0.2 % w/v also showed duplicate dominance inheritance (11:5) at both 24 and 48 hours. In conclusion, lower colchicine concentrations (0.0125, 0.025, and 0.05 % w/v) show potential for trait enhancement by improving efficiency, predictability and effectiveness of developing genetic population, whereas higher concentrations induce complementary and duplicate dominant epistasis inheritance patterns for fennel height and root length suggested the source of variation for survival in changing environment.