مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Cytogenetic Effect of Boric Acid Application on Barley Seeds Germinated under Salt Stress

Abstract :

The effect of exogenous boric acid on the mitotic activity and chromosomal aberrations in root tip meristems of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. ‘Bülbül 89’) seeds germinated under salt stress was investigated. The inhibitory effect of salinity on mitotic index increased with increasing salt concentrations (0.00- control, 0.25, 0.275 and 0.30 M, molar NaCl) as compared to control group. The mitotic index greatly reduced at the highest salt level (0.30 M NaCl). At the same time, the frequency of chromosomal aberrations increased significantly in parallel with the salt concentration rise. It was determined that application of alone boric acid (0,005 μM) was not a prohibitive effect on mitotic index as compared with the barley seeds germinated in distilled water (C, control). Also, the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in application of boric acid increased approximately three-fold according to the control group. Boric acid+different NaCl concentrations simultaneously application remarkably increased the negative effects of salinity on the mitotic activity. However, boric acid application, particularly at high salt concentrations showed a perfect successful in alleviating of the detrimental effect of salinity on the chromosomal aberrations.