Effect of chemical mutagens (Sodium Azide and Diethyl Sulphate) on Amaranthus caudatus L. and A. hypochondriacus L.: I-Vegetative growth and flowering [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The experiments were carried out in two successive seasons, 2001/2002 and 2002/2003, in the Flowers and Ornamental Plants Research Gardens, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, to study the effect of different concentrations of sodium azide (SA) and diethyl sulphate (DES) on the morphological characteristics of Amaranthus caudatus L. and A. hypochondriacus L. as well as on the possibility of mutations induction. The concentrations of the two used mutagens were: 0 (distilled water), 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000 ppm. of each, SA and DES increased the seed germination percentage, plant height, number of branches per plant, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, and leaf area in both seasons for A. coudatus and A. hypochondriacus. In A. caudatus, the concentrations of 3000 ppm. SA and 2000 ppm. DES increased the anthocyanin content in both seasons. The low concentrations up to 3000 ppm. SA and DES in A. hypochondriacus increased the total chlorophyll content. As for A. caudatus, the concentrations of 2000 ppm. SA and 1000 ppm. DES increased the fresh and dry weights in both seasons. In A. hypochondriacus, the concentrations of 3000 ppm. SA and 2000 ppm. DES increased the fresh and dry weights in both seasons. Concerning flowering in A. caudatus and A. hypochondriacus, the high concentration of 5000 ppm. SA and 5000 ppm. DES delayed the flowering in both seasons. The intermediate concentrations of SA and DES up to 4000 ppm. increased the number of inflorescences per plant, the inflorescence length and diameter in both seasons for A. caudatus and A. hypochondriacus .

Summary in Arabic.

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