Cytogenetic effect of highly active ecogenetic factors on winter wheat

The study was aimed at exploring the potential of ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS) as a mutagen by examining its ability to induce chromosomal aberrations, its interaction with different genotypes, and the characteristics of genotype-mutagenic interactions. It also focused on evaluating the feasibility of using EMS in future applications, including its predictive value when tested at the cellular level for determining its mutation-inducing capacity at the plant level. Seeds of winter wheat two varieties (Spivanka and Altigo) were treated with ethylmethansulfonate (EMS) at concentrations of 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%, and sodium azide (SA) at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%. The study of cytogenetic activity, evaluated through pollen sterility and the frequency and spectrum of chromosomal abnormalities in mid-phase cell mitosis, revealed significant findings regarding genotype-mutagenic interactions in the wheat varieties. Genotype-mutagenic interactions are crucial in determining variability in chromosomal aberrations. The wheat variety Altigo demonstrated significantly higher genotype-mutagenic specificity, making it a promising candidate for inducing variability and obtaining mutant forms. Altigo showed particularly effective responses when treated with EMS and SA concentrations ranging 0.025% to 0.05%, which optimized the mutagenic effects without excessive adverse impacts. The study underscores critical findings of the parameters that define the genetically determined susceptibility of wheat varieties to ecogenetic factors, particularly focusing on the mutagens EMS and SA. The pollen fertility, overall frequency of chromosomal aberrations, and number of induced fragments were observed to be the most reliable indicators of genetic susceptibility to mutagens. Other parameters, particularly rare chromosomal rearrangements, only partially reflected the trends or failed to provide meaningful data, indicating limited utility in such analyses. The agents under study exhibited induction patterns consistent with those observed for other chemical supermutagens, although variations occured based on the initial genetic material of the plant. The data will be integrated with studies on the frequency and quality of resulting hereditary changes, particularly in complex biochemical and physiological traits. These results provide a foundation for refining mutagenic strategies and identifying optimal conditions and materials for future breeding programs.