ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to
study the effect of two chemical mutagens on the morphological characteristics
of waterleaf (Talinum fruticosum Jacq.
Wild). It was carried out during the dry season in 2017 and 2018. It was a pot
experiment laid out with two types of planting materials, seeds and stem
cuttings, each treated with two chemical mutagens; ethanol and formalin. The
seeds and stem cuttings of the plant were soaked in solutions of different
concentrations of formalin and ethanol at: 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 and 1.5% for
thirty minutes, except the control. It was a 2x2x6 factorial experiment laid
out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates, twenty four
pots per replicate and seventy-two pots in all. The highest germination and
sprouting percentages were recorded for the control followed by 0.3% and 0.6%
of both ethanol and formalin during 2017 and 2018. Reduced germination
percentage was recorded for seeds treated with ethanol and formalin at higher
concentrations. The tallest plant mean was recorded for formalin at 0.3%
concentration but was not significantly different from the control at p<
0.05 during both years. Increased number of leaves per plant was recorded for
stem cuttings treated with ethanol at 0.3 and 0.6%, formalin at 0.3% and also
seeds treated with ethanol at 0.6 and 0,9% and they were significantly
different from the control at p< 0.05. Mean leaf area value recorded for
ethanol treated seeds at 0.3 and 0.6% and stem cuttings at 0.3% were
significantly different from the control at p< 0.05. Leaf length recorded in
seeds treated with 0.3% ethanol, Stem cuttings treated with 0.6 and 0.9%
formalin was significantly longer than the control at p< 0.05. Stem cuttings
treated with formalin at 0.3% recorded the highest leaf yield for both years
and it was significantly different from the control at p< 0.05. Number of
branches recorded for stem cuttings treated with ethanol at 0.3% concentration
level was significantly different from the control at p < 0.05. For
formalin, control plant had the highest number of branches and was
significantly different at p < 0.05 from the other concentrations in 2017
and 2018. A high stem circumference value was recorded for seeds and stem
cuttings treated with ethanol and formalin at 0.3% concentration but they were
not significantly different from the control at p < 0.05 in 2017 and 2018.
Reduction in plant height, number of leaves, stem circumference, leaf length,
number of branches and leaf area was observed at higher concentrations of both
ethanol and formalin in both planting materials. Reduction in the traits under
study was more pronounced under formalin treatment than ethanol. The present
study demonstrated that seeds and stem cuttings treated with both formalin and
ethanol at lower concentrations (between 0.3- 0.6%) could affect the
morphological behaviour of the waterleaf plant.
IDUNG, I (2024). Analysis Of The Effect Of Two Chemical Mutagens On The Morphological Characteristics Of Waterleaf Plant (Talinum Fruticosum Jacq.Wild) Grown From Seeds And Stem Cuttings In Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria:- Idung, Margaret G. Repository.mouau.edu.ng: Retrieved Sep 07, 2024, from https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/analysis-of-the-effect-of-two-chemical-mutagens-on-the-morphological-characteristics-of-waterleaf-plant-talinum-fruticosum-jacqwild-grown-from-seeds-and-stem-cuttings-in-umudike-southeastern-nigeria-idung-margaret-g-7-2
IDUNG, IDUNG. "Analysis Of The Effect Of Two Chemical Mutagens On The Morphological Characteristics Of Waterleaf Plant (Talinum Fruticosum Jacq.Wild) Grown From Seeds And Stem Cuttings In Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria:- Idung, Margaret G" Repository.mouau.edu.ng. Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 22 Jul. 2024, https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/analysis-of-the-effect-of-two-chemical-mutagens-on-the-morphological-characteristics-of-waterleaf-plant-talinum-fruticosum-jacqwild-grown-from-seeds-and-stem-cuttings-in-umudike-southeastern-nigeria-idung-margaret-g-7-2. Accessed 07 Sep. 2024.
IDUNG, IDUNG. "Analysis Of The Effect Of Two Chemical Mutagens On The Morphological Characteristics Of Waterleaf Plant (Talinum Fruticosum Jacq.Wild) Grown From Seeds And Stem Cuttings In Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria:- Idung, Margaret G". Repository.mouau.edu.ng, Repository.mouau.edu.ng, 22 Jul. 2024. Web. 07 Sep. 2024. < https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/analysis-of-the-effect-of-two-chemical-mutagens-on-the-morphological-characteristics-of-waterleaf-plant-talinum-fruticosum-jacqwild-grown-from-seeds-and-stem-cuttings-in-umudike-southeastern-nigeria-idung-margaret-g-7-2 >.
IDUNG, IDUNG. "Analysis Of The Effect Of Two Chemical Mutagens On The Morphological Characteristics Of Waterleaf Plant (Talinum Fruticosum Jacq.Wild) Grown From Seeds And Stem Cuttings In Umudike, Southeastern Nigeria:- Idung, Margaret G" Repository.mouau.edu.ng (2024). Accessed 07 Sep. 2024. https://repository.mouau.edu.ng/work/view/analysis-of-the-effect-of-two-chemical-mutagens-on-the-morphological-characteristics-of-waterleaf-plant-talinum-fruticosum-jacqwild-grown-from-seeds-and-stem-cuttings-in-umudike-southeastern-nigeria-idung-margaret-g-7-2