Random Chromosome Breakage By Colchicine Inviscum Fischeri (Loranthaceae)

Abstract

When the shoot-tips ofViscum fischeri Engl. were treated with various concentrations of colchicine for different lengths of time, it was found that in this plant chromosome breakage was not localized to centromeric region as reported in other plants. InV. fischeri chromosome breakage occurred at random (simulating X-ray-induced fragmentation). The percentage of breakage increased linearly with respect to time at concentrations 0.1, 0.2, 0.3% but parabolically at 0.5%.