Investigation on the Causative factor in Surf Excel, a Commercial Detergent, as a Chemical Hybridising Agent for Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Surf Excel has been claimed to be a chemical hybridising agent (CHA) for mustard. It was therefore evaluated for its effect on induction of male sterility on wheat. A field experiment was conducted involving phosphate buffer at pH 10.4, Tween 80 and Surf Excel at two test concentrations (1 and 2%) on two varieties (HDR 77 and HD 2285) of wheat. It was observed that the detergent showed a certain degree of induction of male sterility effect at 2% test concentration only. Surf Excel caused induction of male sterility in dose dependent manner and effect was just moderate. Tween 80 was found to be ineffective but the buffer of pH 10.4 was effective under similar conditions. It therefore implies that the observed induction of male sterility might be due to alkaline pH.