Chemical induced polyploidism

[Mark Thorson]

Colchicine is commonly used to introduce polyploidism.  I believe
you treat the flowers before pollination, not the seeds.  Colchicine
is poisonous, and is used in small amounts as a treatment for gout.
The natural source for colchicine is the corm of the crocus plant.

If I remember correctly, colchicine interferes with the formation
of microtubules, and that interferes with cell division, causing
polyploidism.