Abstract
Seeds of Pisum sativum var. Arikil were treated for 6 hrs with different concentrations of aluminum sulfate varying from 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 ppm. By observing the percentage of seed germination (PSG), radicle length (RL), mitotic index (MI) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in root tips of P. sativum the effect of Al was evaluated. Reduction in PSG and RL compared to that of part of control reveals that Al had substantial inhibiting effect on the root meristem activity of P. sativum. However, Al treatment also reduced MI in a dose-dependent manner when compared with control. With increasing concentrations of Al treatment, the overall percentage of aberrations usually increased. Sticky chromosome (STC), C-mitosis (C-M), Fragment (FR), Precocious Separation (PS) and Bridges (BR) were the most common aberrations observed in the present study.