Cytohistology of the Reaction of Maize Seedlings to Colchicine

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Abstract
Seedlings of maize having the first 3 leaves unfolded were treated with colchicine. The radicle, from which the tip had been cut off, was immersed in 0.05% colchicine for 91 hrs. The external effects were stunting of the seedling and swelling of the coleoptile node and root tips. Meristematic tissues of the root and plumule exhibited similar erratically localized mitotic aberrations, i.e., multipolar separation, non-separation and clumping of the chromosomes, producing multinucleate cells and giant polyploid nuclei. The thin marginal meristems of young leaves are relatively more responsive to colchicine than is the more massive pro-meristem of the. axis. Floral organ primordia are believed to be responsive in a similar erratic manner, accounting for the known sectoring in the tassel and the formation of monoploid and diploid pollen in sectors.