Summary
1. A comparative study of the action of Aesculine, Paradichlorobenzene and Resorcinol on the root-tip, pollen grain and pollen mother cell chromosomes ofNothoscordum fragrans Kunth. reveals considerable erosion and fragmentation at meta- and anaphase in root-tips.
2. The division is mitotic in pollen grains but yet prolonged treatment resulted only in diplochromosome formation and not chromosome fragmentation. Fragmentation was also not observed in meiotic cells. Chemical treatment produced only irregularities in division such as lagging, non-disjunction and stickiness.
3. The marked differences in response to chemicals between the root-tip cells on the one hand and the pollen grains and P.M.C.’s on the other is suggestive only of differences in chromosome metabolism and not the ultimate structure of the chromosomes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carr, J. G. .. “Chemically induced mutations—Biochemical aspects of Genetics,”British Biochemical Society Symposium No. 4, 1950.
Levan, A. and Tjio, J. H... “Chromosome fragmentation induced by phenols,”Hereditas, 1948,34, 250–52.
—————.. “Induction of chromosome fragmentation by phenols,” Ibid., 1948,34, 453–84.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by Dr. I. Banerji,f.a.sc.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sharma, A.K., Sarkar, S.K. A study on the comparative effect of chemicals on chromosomes of roots, pollen mother cells and pollen grains. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. 45, 288–293 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03051029
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03051029