Cytological Studies in Vicia faba L. Treated with Asafoetida

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Abstract
Cytological observations of V. faba using asafoetida show that it can be used as a mutagen. About 0.1% to 0.2% of natural mutations occur in V. faba. Since water treatment caused some aberrations it is as-sumed that certain chemicals, present in seed coat ofV. faba, are soluble in water and in turn act as automutagenic substances. Since asafoetida contains unbelliferone which is 7-hydroxy coumarin (a mutagen) it therefore must have mutagenic properties. Thus asafoetida is a cheaply available mutagen.