Re: Is it possible to mutate a plant with house-hold items?

It's unlikely because if household products caused mutations, they would be
taken off the market. Chemicals that cause mutations in plants would be likely
to cause mutations in people as well. Bleach would be more likely to kill a
Venus flytrap than mutate it. A mutation that would increase Venus flytap size
would be a very rare event. Most mutations are deleterious to the plant. To
create a bigger than normal Venus flytap via mutation might require thousands of
plants and many years. To increase plant size as you wish, a better strategy
might be to induce polyploidy, but even that strategy may not work. Doubling the
number of chromosomes from the normal diploid to tetraploid often results in
increased plant size and vigor. Polyploidy is sometimes induced with the toxic
chemical colchicine.

Radiation, such as gamma rays or x-rays, have often been used to cause plant
mutations. Biological supply companies sell seeds that have been exposed to
several levels of radiation. They also sell spiderwort plants whose flower parts
change from blue to pink when exposed to low doses of radiation.

Chemicals used to induce mutations in plants include ethyl methane sulfonate and
hydrazine. The last reference gives directions for mutating C-fern with ethyl
methane sulfonate. C-Fern is a model plant for teaching. Chemical mutagens are
very dangerous and should only be handled with expert supervision and
appropriate equipment.

References


Spiderwort radiation


Re: How can I induce mutations in my garden plants?


Re: How does ionizing radiation ineract with plants?


Vishnoi, A.K. and Gupta, P.K. 1980. Induced mutagenesis in Vicia faba L. 1
Chlorophyll mutations induced by gamma rays, ethyl methane sulphonate and
hydrazine. Cytobios. 27(106): 81-87. 


C-Fern Web Manual - Spore Mutagenesis