Most commonly ethidium bromide is used. For alternative method to this check the paper below:

Article Spontaneous and induced rho mutants of Saccharomyces cerevis...

What kind of damage?

Ethidium bromide is used to induce loss of mt-DNA.

Spontaneous and induced rho mutants of Saccharomyces cerevis...

Hi Rajesh!

What kind of damage are you looking to induce?

As already written, you could induce loss of mtDNA with e.g. EtBr or introduce rho mutants.

Alternatively, depending on what you are planning to do, we have used valinomycin (a K+ ionophore), which triggers mitochondrial dysfunction by locally disrupting the mitochondrial membrane potential, induces an overproduction of mitochondrial ROS, and leads to a kind of swelling of the mitochondrial matrix. Treatment of yeast with valinomycin in the low µM range induces mitophagy, particularly of components of the ETC and especially if you grow them in respiratory conditions.

Hope this helps somehow,

Best,

Stephanie