Influence of Colchicine in Causing Severe Chromosomal Damage in Microsporocytes of Hard Wheat (<i>Triticum durum</i> Desf.): Possible Mechanisms and Genotoxic Relevance

Abstract

In this study, cytogenetic toxicity of colchicine in microsporocytes of hard wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) was evaluated. Colchicine treatments revealed the induction of various chromosomal abnormalities in gametic cells which includes chromatin stickiness, unoriented chromosomes, univalents, laggards, bridges, and micronuclei. These abnormalities increased along with increased colchicine concentrations. Simultaneously, the study also deals correlation of overall cytological aberrations with the frequency of seed germination, plant survival, and pollen fertility. Chromosome stickiness along with spindle disturbances, laggards, chromatin bridges, irregular chromosome distribution, and abnormal tetrads are the main causes that lead to a reduction in pollen fertility percentage found in colchicine-treated populations. Furthermore, the colchicine-induced chromosome aberrations caused a significant decline in seed germination and plant survival with the increasing colchicine concentrations. The present findings reveal the potential of colchicine in inducing alterations in chromosome structure and behavior thereby enhancing the genetic diversity in hard wheat. As a result, colchicine could be efficiently exploited for isolating novel and promising mutants in segregating generations.