Actinomycin-D and varietal adaptation in wheat

Abstract

Six Indian wheat varieties differing in their adaptation were selected for the study. They were treated with 350 μg/ml aqueous solution of antimetabolite Actinomycin-D. The effect of this antimetabolite was studied in seedling growth of six varieties. Variety C. 306, which is known to be best adapted among all the varieties, was found to be relatively less affected as compared to several other varieties. It showed minimum percentage of growth inhibition. No significant interseedling variability was found following the antimetabolite treatment. On the other hand, the poorly adapted variety N.P. 823 was found to be very much affected when treated with Actinomycin-D. It was observed by the fact that variety N.P. 823 showed maximum percentage of growth inhibition and produced a significant interseedling variability. It suggested a strong buffering capacity of variety C. 306 against the treatment of Actinomycin-D.