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When the seeds, or root—tips of the seedlings, of Vicia faba were exposed to the suspension of thalidomide (a—phthalimidoglutarimide) in water for different duration of times, characteristic chromosomal aberrations as well as anomalous nuclei were observable when examined cytologically.
With the increase in the exposure time of the root—tips, there appeared corresponding reduction in the mitotic index as well as accumulation of metaphase plates with contracted chromosomes. When the sseds were exposed to the freshly — prepared suspension of the drug (renewed every six hours) for 24 hrs., marked reduction in the growth rate of the seedlings were noted and the characteristic chimaeras produced in the leaves and shoot—buds, were indicative of the chromosomal changes induced in the primordial cells of the embryos.