Effect of lead nitrate on the morphological and cytogenetic parameters of spring two-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
The effect of Pb(NO <sub>3</sub>) <sub>2</sub> on the length of shoots and roots and the number of germinating and strong seedlings of three spring barley cultivars has been investigated. Lead-sensitive and lead-tolerant cultivars have been identified. Morphological anomalies of seedlings have been revealed. Cytogenetic analysis of root apical meristem cells has been performed to specify reasons for these reactions. Inhibition of mitotic activity under the effect of maximum lead concentration has been discovered. Cells division has been found to stop at the late stages. High frequencies of multipolar mitosis, non-divergences, and agglutinations have been noted. The critical lead rate has been determined. Criteria have been proposed for the selection of lead-tolerant barley cultivars. A set of biometric and cytogenetic parameters has been developed for the selection of testing lead concentration to differentiate a wide range of two-row barley samples from the genetic resources collection of the All-Russian Research Institute of Plant Industry for resistance to the impact of this heavy metal.