CHROMOSOME DAMAGE INDUCED BY ARTIFICIAL SEED AGING IN BARLEY. I. GERMINABILITY AND FREQUENCY OF ABERRANT ANAPHASES AT FIRST MITOSIS

Abstract

In order to study the genetic changes which occur during seed storage, barley (Hordeum vulgare L. 'Himalaya') seeds were subjected to artificial aging using six combinations of temperature (21 °C, 32 °C, and 38 °C) and seed moisture content (12% and 18%). With increasing time in storage, germination of the seeds was delayed and reduced. Abnormal seedlings without roots also occurred with increased storage. Higher temperature and seed moisture content induced rapid loss of germinability. At the first mitotic division in the root tips, the frequency of aberrant anaphases and of roots with aberrations increased with increased storage time. The frequencies of aberrant anaphases and of roots with aberrations were also increased by higher temperature and seed moisture content. Frequencies of aberrant anaphases and of roots with aberrations were negatively correlated with germination percentage. This indicated that the frequency of chromosomal aberrations induced by seed aging might be estimated from the germination percentages.