Sodium azide (NaN 3 ) has been used in many biological studies as a mutagen. In the present study, the morphological and cytogenetic effects of NaN 3 on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings were investigated. Seeds of barley were treated with different concentrations of NaN 3 (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mmol/L) and applied for different periods of time (3 and 4 h). Parameters investigated, except for the mitotic index, were determined on Days 7 and 14. Increasing concentrations of NaN 3 affected germination rates on Days 7 and 14 following application for 3 and 4 h. Although the length of the roots and leaves was affected by treatment with NaN 3 on Day 14 of the germination period, coleoptile length was affected by NaN 3 treatment on Day 7. Increasing concentrations of NaN 3 and increased treatment period decreased the mitotic index compared with the untreated control. The inhibitory effects of NaN 3 on the mitotic index indicate that NaN 3 can have genotoxic and mutagenic effects on barley seedlings.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.