Interaction between chemical mutagens with a delayed effect and metabolites of seeds : Communication I: The cytogenetic action of mutagens as related to the physiological condition of seeds.

A study was made of the cytogenetic effect of mutagens with a delayed effect (ethylenimine and ethyl methanesulphonate) on Crepis capillaris seeds. The effect was found to depend on the physiological condition of the seeds. In seeds not subjected to prolonged storage, where only chromatid aberrations were occurring spontaneously, mutagens also induced chromatid aberrations only. If, however, because of physiological changes in the seeds (e.g. upon prolonged storage or when seeds were kept at an elevated temperature and humidity) a large number of chromosome-type aberrations appeared, they also appeared when the seeds were acted upon by mutagens with a delayed effect. The action of such mutagens was also found to depend on spontaneous mutation in seeds with different rates of germination. Special experiments showed that the interaction of ethylenimine with the metabolites of seeds in vitro leads to the formation of secondary active mutagens differing from ethylenimine in the nature of their action. The induction of chromosome-type aberrations by treating seeds with alkylating compounds may be due to the action of secondary mutagens.