A Comparative Study of MH and EMS in the Induction of Chromosomal Aberrations on Lateral Root Meristem in Clitoria ternatea L

Abstract

Relative effects of MH (Growth retardant) and EMS, (Chemical multagen) with respect to mitotic behaviour has been assessed on lateral roots of the seedlings of C. tennatea Var. blue single. Roots have been treated with MH (10^-4M, 10^-3M and 10^-2M), EMS (0.15%, 0.2%, 0.25%) for 2hr. After different recovery periods, (12 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr, 72 hr) mitotic analysis were carried out to estimate the cytological anomalies. In control 2.68% of chromosomal aberrations have been recorded. In both the treatments, common type of abnormalities observed were stickiness, bridges, laggards at anaphase and telophase. In case of EMS treatment study indicates chromosomal damage, however, it does not affect the mitotic inhibition, whereas, MH at higher concentration (10^-2M) and all time factors of recovery period exhibits inhibition action on cell division leading to growth retardation, on the contrary, at lower concentration (10^-4M) with various recovery period there is no mitotic inhibition but cells show good percentage of chromosomal aberrations conveying its mutagenic activity like EMS.