Question

How does colchicine act as mitotic poison? Is there any advantage of it?

Answer 1

Colchicine is an alkaloid obtained from Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). It inhibits the formation of mitotic spindle. As a result, chromosomes duplicate but they remain within the same cell, increasing in number (endoduplication). Such cells are called polyploid cells.
Its advantage is that plant breeders have used colchicine-induced polyploidy as a means of producing variants of agricultural and horticultural crops.