Effect of sodium azide on growth criteria, some metabolites, mitotic index and chromosomal abnormalities in Pisum sativum and Vicia faba

Abstract Seeds of Pisum sativum and Vicia faba were pre-soaked in one of three concentrations (1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 mM) of the mutagenic agent sodium azide (NaN3) for different periods (30 min, 1 h or 2 hs). The impact of these treatments on seed germination, some growth criteria, photosynthetic pigments, some metabolic activities and cytological behavior in the growing seedlings, the yield parameters as well as the variation in the protein profile of the yielded seeds of the selected mutants grown from the seedlings were studied. The germination percentage, shoot height, root depth, leaflets area, chl. a, ch.b, the initial level of fluorescence (Fo) were decreased with NaN3 treatments and these decreases were directly proportional to the dosage and duration of treatment. In the two species, the treatments resulted in significant increases in the carotenoid contents, total soluble carbohydrate contents, total soluble protein content, total free amino acids contents and theses increases were directly proportional to the increase in NaN3 concentration and soaking time. However, all yield criteria were reduced gradually by increasing NaN3 concentration and soaking duration. The rate of mitotic index (dividing cell frequency) was generally decreased while; the rate of non-dividing cells and the rate of abnormalities were increased with the increase in both the pre-soaking duration and concentration of NaN3. Marked changes in the protein patterns in the two plant species were recorded where nine polymorphic bands, 16 monomorphic bands and 2 two unique bands were found in the case of pea, while in case of bean, there were 13 polymorphic bands, 15 monomorphic bands and two unique bands.