Effects of three mutagens on seed germination of Vicia sativa

This experiment studied the seed germination rate, germination index and the growth of seedlings of Vicia sativa under different doses of 60Co-γ-rays, colchicine and Ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS) mutagenic treatments. The results showed that 60Co-γrays inhibited radical and plumule length of V.sativa to a certain degree, however, this treatment had no significant effect on the germination rate. The optimum dosage was 600 to 1 000 Gy. The germination rate, radical and plumule length of V.sativa was inhibited by colchicine. However, there was less inhibitory effect under short time treatment. The germination rate and germination index of V.sativa were 45% and 0.757, respectively, under the treatment of seed in colchicine solution at 0.2% for 24 h. Effects of EMS on the germination rate, radical and plumule length of V.sativa varied with processing time and concentrations. The final germination rate was 46% under the treatment of seeds in EMS solution at 0.5 ml·L-1 concentration for 48 h which recommended as the optimum EMS dosage..