Effect of Zebularine Soaking on the Early Growth Stage and Mitotic Chromosomes of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of zebularine soaking on the early growth stage of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Hence, root elongation was measured daily according to the different concentrations of zebularine (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 μM) for 4 days. On the first day, root length at 2.5 and 5.0 μM was significantly longer than that in the non-treated control. On the second day, root length was not significantly different among all concentrations and controls. On the third day, root elongation was suppressed by the effect of zebularine, except at 2.5 μM. The treatment time of zebularine accounted for the largest proportion of the variation in root elongation. After transplanting, plant growth velocity was similar to that of the control; however, plants at 2.5 μM showed faster growth velocity than that of the other concentrations and the control. In the metaphase of mitosis, most chromosomes of cells under zebularine treatment were ordinary regardless of the concentration, while some cells with short chromosomes were investigated at around 2%. The short chromosome showed a centromere. In addition, it showed short and long arms based on the centromere. The lengths of the short and long arms were different for each short chromosome. It is necessary to study the effect of the short chromosome as a chromosomal function on plant growth and phenotype through investigation of meiosis and fertilization at the chromosome level.