Differential response of some tomato genes to base-specific mutagens

Abstract

A number of chemicals are now known which affect specific bases of the DNA molecule. These include the base analogues (such as fluorodeoxyuridine) and others like hydroxylamine and hydrazine which react mainly with cytosine and thymine respectively under particular conditions of treatment. The action of many of these chemicals on chromosomes and genes in higher organisms has not been tested extensively, but some reports are available which show that they induce localized damage in the nucleus. We have observed a differential reaction of tomato chromosomes when pollen mother cells are treated with hydroxylamine. The main finding was that a few of the chromosomes, particularly chromosome 2, were much less damaged than other members of the complement. These experiments with hydroxylamine and a number of other chemicals and X-rays have now been extended to compare the spectrum of mutations induced by them; the present communication relates to some of the results obtained.