Studies of mitotic abnormalities in Zea mays L. under the influence of Ethyl Methane Sulphonate.

Reeta Verma and Kamini Kumar
University Department of Botany Ranchi University Ranchi Jharkhand.

Received 3rd December, 2008; Revised 9^th 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.

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