Para-Fluorophenylalanine-induced chromosome number changes in higher plants. II. Tomato and rape

Abstract

Germinating seeds of rape (Brassica napus L.) and of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), and 1-month-old tomato seedlings, were treated with para-fluorophenylalanine to change chromosome numbers. A number of morphological aberrations were found in treated plants of both species, some of which were also observed in progeny of treated tomatoes. Aneuploids and polyploids were confirmed cytologically in treated plants of both species. The investigations confirm the suggestion previously made for maize, that para-fluorophenylalanine is capable of changing chromosome numbers and the resulting morphology of plants of widely different phylogenetic categories.Key words: Para-fluorophenylalanine, chromosome number changes, plants, tomato, rape, aneuploids, polyploids, morphological changes.