Colchicine Induced Polyploidy in Cassia tora (L.) Rox.

Abstract

An Induction of artificial polyploidy by 0.4% aqueous solution of Colchicine has been successfully made in Cassia tora. The data obtained from the experimentally treated materials have been further analysed for all the implications to understand the effect of Colchicine on the Chromosome structure, and function. The tetraploids showed n = 26 bivalents and different combinations of univalent and multivalent, the percentage of quadrivalents being the highest Chromosome irregularities in PMCs of polyploids has been detected more frequently than normal diploid. The polyploids thus, raised did show autopolyploidy in nature. The chemical environment within the cell can change the meiotic behaviour of a species. The tetraploid plants showed a slower rate of growth, delayed flowering, thicker, darker and wider leaflet, and decreased stomatal frequency per unit area. This also showed larger stomata, increase in height, increase in number of lateral branching, bigger fruit, seed size and increase in the number of pollen grains with absence of exine. The pollen sterility increases as compared to diploid. It is thus clear that experimental induction by Chemical means (Colchicine) holds a clue for understanding the adaptability of the species in different environmental conditions.