Lasers offer route to new crop mutations

17 Jun 2002

Photosensitizer compounds enable lasers to effect genetic mutations in corn plants

Russian and Moldavian scientists claim to have achieved the first successful genetic mutations in plants using laser irradiation. The researchers, based at Ryazan State Agricultural Academy and the Institute of Genetics within the Moldavian Academy of Sciences, used compounds called photosensitizers, which increase the sensitivity of a plant genome to laser activity.

Using laser radiation to achieve genetic mutations is not new, but until now, say the scientists, attempts had not ascertained the best combination of radiation wavelength and choice of photosensitizer, and experiments had only been carried out in vitro.

The scientists carried out in vivo experiments on corn and tomato plants and showed that the best results are obtained when the crops are treated with a solution of the sensitizer 6-mercaptopurine with ascorbic acid and then exposed to laser radiation at a wavelength of 337 nm. Pollen from treated corn was used to fertilize other plants and the seeds obtained were germinated. Of the plants that were raised, 83% differed outwardly from standard corn, exhibiting dwarfism, altered inflorescence characteristics and changes in the structure of the seed heads. The researchers concluded that there was clear genetic mutation as a result of the laser treatment and suggested that the technique could be refined to provide new crop mutations.