STUDIES IN THE INDUCTION OF MUTATIONS IN ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA (L.) HEYNH

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Radiation Botany

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0033-7560(63)80032-0· OSTI ID:4685296

McKelvie, A D

Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Reynh. has proved to be a useful organism for mutation research because of its short life cycle and the ease with which morphologically distinctive mutants can be induced. Approximately 1000 such mutants were produced in an attempt to look for mutagenlc agents giving high mutation rates and offering prospects of mutation specificity. The maximum mutation rate obtained was 80 per cent with ethyl methane sulfonate. The order of efficiency of the agents tested was ethyl methane sulfonate, ethyleneimine, x rays + synkavit, x rays, tritiated synkavit, nebularine, mercaptopurine, aminopterin, and nitrogen mustard. Because of the wide range of mutant types induced, there were insufficient mutants of any one type to enable definite conclusions to be made about differential response. There was good evidence, in the case of a few mutants, of slight differences in spectrum, both genetically and phenotypically, between alkylating agents and radiation. Mutants induced by alkylating agents tended to be more pleiotropic and occurred at less readily mutable loci than mutants induced by radiation. The claims of other research workers concerning differential response are discussed and it is concluded that although there are good theoretical grounds for mutation specificity, in practice it is unlikely to be of any value for mutation breeding. (auth)

• Research Organization: North of Scotland Coll. of Agriculture, Aberdeen, Scotland
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-033502
• OSTI ID: 4685296
• Journal Information: Radiation Botany, Journal Name: Radiation Botany Vol. Vol: 3
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ALKYL RADICALS
AMINES
AMINO ACIDS
AMINOPTERIN
ARABIDOPSIS
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMOSOMES
ETHYL RADICALS
ETHYLENE
GENETICS
HETEROCYCLICS
IMINES
METHANE
MUTATIONS
NITROGEN MUSTARD
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
PURINES
SULFONIC ACIDS
TRITIUM
VITAMINS
X RADIATION