Induction of somatic mutations in Ephestia by injections of mustard gas solutions

Summary Experiments were carried out using nitrogen-mustard (HN-2) as mutagenic agent for the induction of somatic mutations in Ephestia.Larvae of the last instar were injected with different concentrations of HN-2. Several mutant scales of the same types as observed after x-ray treatment were scored. The HN-2 induced mutation spectrum differs significantly from the x-ray induced one.Several possible explanations are discussed.