EFFECTS OF BORON IONS ON ROOT GROWTH AND CELL DIVISION OF BROADBEAN (VICIA FABA L.)

Abstract

The effects of different concentrations of boric acid on root growth and cell division of Vicia faba L. were studied. The concentrations of boric acid (H3BO3) used were in the range of 10–6~10–1 M. The results indicated that boric acid has a stimulatory effect on root growth at concentrations of 10–6~10–3 M, and an inhibitory effect at higher concentrations. Boric acid has toxic effects on the root tip cells during mitosis, such as colchicine mitoses, chromosome bridges, chromosome fragments, chromosome stickiness, and micronuclei.