Cytomorphological Changes Induced in Breadwheat Following Seed Treatment with Pesticides and Mutagenic Chemicals

Dry healthy and uniform seeds of breadwheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. K 68 were treated for 3 h with 0.1% solution of the active ingredients of four commercial insecticides: Ekalux, Anthio, Heptachlor and Gammaxene: three fungicides: Diathane M-45 (DM–45), Diathane Z-78 (DZ-78) and Bavistin; and two known mutagenic chemicals: dimethyl sulphonate (DMS) and ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS). All the treatments reduced germination percentage, except Anthio, which showed a significant increase over the control. Various treatments significantly affected seedling height on 20th day, except DM-45 and Heptachlor. The dry matter of 20-day-old seedlings and number of spikes did not show any significant difference, however, some of the treatments showed increase over the control. Pollen fertility was adversely affected by most treatments, except Anthio and EMS, which showed a significant increase. Several cytological anomalies, such as, bridges, fragments and laggards, were observed with higher frequency at mitotic anaphase and meiotic anaphase I stages.