CHEMICAL MUTAGENESIS IN PLANTS

[@NotSoCrazyNinja]

Last year I was trying to find a video like this. Couldn't find it. Gave up. Tonight, got the urge to look again, and here is a video just like I needed. Thank you.

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

Thank you! Glad to be of service. Take proper precautions when working with EMS.

I was looking into this for breeding cannabis and possibly variegated or colored tobacco plants, this gave some good basic info. I was searching for Ethyl methanesulfonate this is how I came across your video.

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

Thank you Sir. Please take extreme precautions when using EMS as it is a mutagen. Protect yourself by working within a certified fume hood as the liquid is volatile and decomposes rapidly in contact with water. A word of caution when working with food crops for human or animal consumption: mutants with altered metabolic pathways may produce unwanted secondary metabolites.

[@bluebowser3121]

What is the easiest mutagen to create / access? I want to mutate plants at home.

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

EMS is the one that is most widely used in the laboratory. Colchicine can also be used to produce polyploids. PLEASE DO NOT try this without an adequate laboratory facility and standard operating procedures as the mutagens can cause long-term damage to DNA.

[@bluebowser3121]

@@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES Hi I could not obtain any of these mutagenic chemicals you listed, but I managed to get a source of UVB radiation. Thank you for your response.

[@wonderfulnature2070]

you could mutate yourself!

[@laszloilles52]

Two questions, please: Is it a significant problem, if we don't use buffer in the EMS solution during the mutagen treatment. For what substance the the EMS decomposes, and how harmful is it?

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

Please refer to the documentation: pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Ethyl-methanesulfonate EMS will decompose rapidly in water and this may not have the desired mutagenic effect. It is recommended to use the buffer in order to comply with the standard protocol for mutagenesis of seeds.

[@laszloilles52]

@@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES Thank you very much your prompt response.

[@maxgoodwin308]

@@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES Selamat siang Kenneth. What buffer solution have you used in your experiments?

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

@@maxgoodwin308 0.1 Molar Phosphate buffer. Adjust pH to neutral (7.0). If you use plain water EMS will break down rapidly.

[@shantaelawrence9267]

Why are the seeds pre-soaked before the chemical mutagenesis? Could you say please, the reasons

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

The seeds must be hydrated and metabolically active prior to exposre to EMS. This ensures that the mutagen can diffuse throughout the cell.

[@shantaelawrence9267]

@@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES Ohhh. I get it now. Thank you for replying so fast. Much appreciated.

[@lyonscultivars]

Can this be used on a seedling or is it for a fresh seed only

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

Can be used but the dose will have to be far lower. Perhaps one tenth

[@lyonscultivars]

@@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES thank you. Also same soak duration? Much aprishiate the response

[@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUES]

@@lyonscultivars welcome. The general method is based on soaking seeds in EMS for 6 to 12 hours. Seeds are hard tissue so the diffusion through the embryo is far slower. If you want to start with seedlings, recommended that you use young plants and immerse the roots in a solution of EMS for 1 to 4 hours (Optimise this). Generally this is done in soil less systems and always within the SAFETY of a fume hood.EMS is a mutagen, so work with all the relevant risk mitigation measures. Thank you.

[@lyonscultivars]

@@KENNETHFRANCISRODRIGUESmany thanks. And yes, safety is number one.