©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 13 (4): 10049-10061 (2014) Kill curve analysis and response of irst generation Capsicum annuum L. B12 cultivar to ethyl methane sulfonate M.H. Arisha 1,4 , B.-K. Liang 2 , S.N. Muhammad Shah 1,5 , Z.-H. Gong 1,3 and D.-W. Li 1,3 1 College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China 2 Seed Administration Station of Jintai District, Baoji, Shaanxi, China 3 State Key Laboratory for Stress Biology of Arid Region Crop, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China 4 Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt 5 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, D.I. Khan, Pakistan Corresponding author: Z.-H. Gong E-mail: zhgong@nwsuaf.edu.cn Genet. Mol. Res. 13 (4): 10049-10061 (2014) Received July 29, 2014 Accepted November 11, 2014 Published November 28, 2014 DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/2014.November.28.9 ABSTRACT. Pepper seeds (Capsicum annuum L.) var. B12 were mutagenized by four presoaking treatments in ten concentrations of ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) to determine the sensitivity of the irst generation (M1) to mutagens. The spectrum of mutations and induced variability for various quantitative traits, including germination, percent plant height, injury occurrence, survival ratio, irst three fruits weight, and number of seeds per irst fruit, were observed in the M1 generation. Our results indicated that all of the test parameters decreased with increasing EMS concentration, except for seedling injury. There were signiicant differences in germination ratio, LD 50 , plant height, percent injury, and survival ratio among the tested presoaking treatment. The