Effect of sodium azide on growth criteria, some metabolites, mitotic index and chromosomal abnormalities in Pisum sativum and Vicia faba

<p>Seeds of Pisum sativum and Vicia faba were pre-soaked in one of three concentrations (1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 mM) of<br>the mutagenic agent sodium azide (NaN3) for different periods (30 min, 1 h or 2 hs). The impact of these<br>treatments on seed germination, some growth criteria, photosynthetic pigments, some metabolic activities and<br>cytological behavior in the growing seedlings, the yield parameters as well as the variation in the protein profile of<br>the yielded seeds of the selected mutants grown from the seedlings were studied. The germination percentage,<br>shoot height, root depth, leaflets area, chl. a, ch.b, the initial level of fluorescence (Fo) were decreased with NaN3<br>treatments and these decreases were directly proportional to the dosage and duration of treatment. In the two<br>species, the treatments resulted in significant increases in the carotenoid contents, total soluble carbohydrate<br>contents, total soluble protein content, total free amino acids contents and theses increases were directly<br>proportional to the increase in NaN3 concentration and soaking time. However, all yield criteria were reduced<br>gradually by increasing NaN3 concentration and soaking duration. The rate of mitotic index (dividing cell<br>frequency) was generally decreased while; the rate of non-dividing cells and the rate of abnormalities were<br>increased with the increase in both the pre-soaking duration and concentration of NaN3. Marked changes in the<br>protein patterns in the two plant species were recorded where nine polymorphic bands, 16 monomorphic bands<br>and 2 two unique bands were found in the case of pea, while in case of bean, there were 13 polymorphic bands, 15<br>monomorphic bands and two unique bands.