At risk of sounding really ignorant, I have to ask: how is it that safe substances such as cement powder and MSG can cause mutation so easily? I always thought that mutation was generally a really bad thing caused by dangerous radiation?
The first half of the article regarding cement talks about it interrupting pollen rejection mechanisms on the stigma. Cement is not a mutagen, it's used because of its high pH. Regarding msg safety, there are several papers on google scholar discussing the genotoxicity of msg under different experimental conditions, I would suggest looking at them if you're interested in the subject. It's too complicated to make any sweeping statement here. Regardless of anyone's meta-conclusion on it, msg is generally considered safe enough, and is consumed around the world. Plus, the amounts of msg used to mutate plants are much smaller than the those consumed in food. Suffice to say that working with msg dilutions on plants is nowhere close the toxicity level of the other mutagens used in plant breeding.
Mutation can be caused by many things beyond radiation. There are actually internal mutagenic systems (transposons) that plants use to generate new diversity, and which activate even after something like drought stress. So farmers that save seed are working with mutation way more often than they realize. If it generates an unwanted or defective result it can be considered bad, but it's also part of the natural mechanisms to generate new diversity help the organism adapt to novel conditions. So to an extent an organism knows "how" to mutate, and the cell will direct the process.
Part of what I'm trying trying to do with some of the posts here is to broaden people's view of what mutation is. While it's traditionally taught as random copying error, that's only one kind of mutation. This understanding is in large part influenced by the work of cytogeneticist Barbara McClintock. A broader view mutagenic processes I think can lead the plant breeder to the understanding that they are crucial processes to help plants generate new diversity and adapt to new conditions. Here is an article introducing this: https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/tomato-jumping-genes
Thanks so much for sharing this info. I will definitely try this out next year.
One question regarding this sentence: “It’s interesting to note that more polyploids appeared in the second vegetative generation after soaking in msg (M2 vs M1).” Does the second generation refer to plants that were made from offsets or cuttings from the bulbs that were soaked in MSG?
That’s a good question; I believe it was referring to an offset, unless they were meaning the same original bulb. They cultured the roots growing out from the bulb to test the ploidy number.
This has got be excited to stack methods and do msg treated + hybrid seed for mentor grafting, thanks for making that connection.
At risk of sounding really ignorant, I have to ask: how is it that safe substances such as cement powder and MSG can cause mutation so easily? I always thought that mutation was generally a really bad thing caused by dangerous radiation?
The first half of the article regarding cement talks about it interrupting pollen rejection mechanisms on the stigma. Cement is not a mutagen, it's used because of its high pH. Regarding msg safety, there are several papers on google scholar discussing the genotoxicity of msg under different experimental conditions, I would suggest looking at them if you're interested in the subject. It's too complicated to make any sweeping statement here. Regardless of anyone's meta-conclusion on it, msg is generally considered safe enough, and is consumed around the world. Plus, the amounts of msg used to mutate plants are much smaller than the those consumed in food. Suffice to say that working with msg dilutions on plants is nowhere close the toxicity level of the other mutagens used in plant breeding.
Mutation can be caused by many things beyond radiation. There are actually internal mutagenic systems (transposons) that plants use to generate new diversity, and which activate even after something like drought stress. So farmers that save seed are working with mutation way more often than they realize. If it generates an unwanted or defective result it can be considered bad, but it's also part of the natural mechanisms to generate new diversity help the organism adapt to novel conditions. So to an extent an organism knows "how" to mutate, and the cell will direct the process.
Part of what I'm trying trying to do with some of the posts here is to broaden people's view of what mutation is. While it's traditionally taught as random copying error, that's only one kind of mutation. This understanding is in large part influenced by the work of cytogeneticist Barbara McClintock. A broader view mutagenic processes I think can lead the plant breeder to the understanding that they are crucial processes to help plants generate new diversity and adapt to new conditions. Here is an article introducing this: https://www.slcu.cam.ac.uk/news/tomato-jumping-genes
Thank you, this is fascinating!
Thanks so much for sharing this info. I will definitely try this out next year.
One question regarding this sentence: “It’s interesting to note that more polyploids appeared in the second vegetative generation after soaking in msg (M2 vs M1).” Does the second generation refer to plants that were made from offsets or cuttings from the bulbs that were soaked in MSG?
That’s a good question; I believe it was referring to an offset, unless they were meaning the same original bulb. They cultured the roots growing out from the bulb to test the ploidy number.
Please share the results of your experiment!
Great information. Thanks so much for sharing and breaking it down for all us beginners interested in developing garden skills . Please keep posting !
Wonderful to see you sharing this simple and accessible knowledge to the wider breeding community.
Thank you so much for the encouragement and inspiration !
U da person 👍 (man or woman, whoever you are)
Haha thank you for the support !
More precious knowledge, I'm glad you're writing this. Here's to a successful wide crossing season next year.
Appreciate the support. Wishing you luck as well!