Effect of ethyl methanesulfonate on the meiotic chromosomes of grasshopper, Poecilocerus pictus: dose-effect relationships

Ethyl methanesulfonate, a mono-functional alkylating agent, has been employed in the present investigations to study the dose-effect relationships in an insect system of grasshopper, Poecilocerus pictus (Orthoptera). Different doses ranging from 0.015 to 0.2 M EMS have been used. The doses above 0.12 M were too toxic. Chromosomal anomalies scored in die meiotic stages of metaphase I and II and anaphase I and II at different recovery times have clearly indicated a significant increase in linear manner as the doses increased from 0.015 to 0.12 M EMS at all the recovery times tested. Further, an attempt has been made to highlight some of the advantages of P. pictus to use as a test system