Cytological Studies in Vicia faba L. Treated with Asafoetida

Cytological observations in Vicia faba using asafoetida revealed that asafoetida could cause aberrations and be used as a mutagen. About 0.1% to 0.2%/ of natural mutations do occur in Vicia faba. Since water treatment caused some aberrations it may be presumed that certain chemicals which are present in seed coat of Vicia faba must be soluble in water and in turn acting as automutagenic substances. Coumarins cause mutations. Since asafoetida is having umbelliferone which is 7-hydroxy coumarin it must be acting as a mutagen. So asafoetida can be used as a cheaply available mutagen. But how far this mutagen can be used in boosting up Agricultural production needs further investigation.