Reeta Verma and Kamini Kumar
University Department of Botany Ranchi University Ranchi Jharkhand.
Received 3rd December, 2008; Revised 9th July, 2009
Abstract : Seeds of Zea mays var. Pahuja and var. Kanchan were subjected to 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.5% concentration of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate. The cytological effect of mutagen in the immediate generation was studied. Ethyl Methane Sulphonate caused decrease in mitotic index with increase in concentration of the mutagen. A number of mitotic abnormalities were observed, such as stickiness of chromosome, trophokinesis, fragments, laggard, micronuclei and disturbed orientation of chromosome.
The variety Pahuja was resistant towards the different concentration of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate and variety Kanchan was considered to be sensitive.