Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2992968 
Technical Report 
Cytological and biochemical alterations induced by 2 herbicides in the root tips of Vicia faba 
Badr, EA; Mousa, M; Seehy, MA 
1983 
HEEP/84/10416 
12 
1 
123-136 
English 
HEEP COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. The effects of 2 herbicides, Cubex and Stomp, on the genetic material at the molecular level as well as their cytotoxic effects on the root-tips of V. faba were studied. These 2 herbicides belong to the same dinitroaniline chemical group. Root-tip cultures were exposed to 3 concentrations of Cubex (2.4, 4.8 and 7.2 ppm) for 2 exposure times (4 and 24 h). Similar cultures were exposed to 2 concentrations of Stomp (3.3 and 6.6 ppm) for the same 2 exposure times (4 and 24 h). Both herbicides were effective in inhibiting mitosis and spindle formation. This effect led to the production of C-metaphases. Exposure of root-tips for 24 h led to the formation of tetraploid cells. This type of aberration probably resulted from the division of chromosomes in C-metaphase cells during the extended period. Exposure to these herbicides apparently does not prevent chromosome replication, but it leads to an inhibition of spindle formation. Both compounds belong to the same dinitroaniline chemical group. Chromatin analysis was performed on treated and control root-tips. Fractionation of histones following an exposure for 12 h to Stomp (3.3 ppm) or to Cubex (2.4 ppm) indicated that Stomp affected lysine-rich fraction; Cubex did not. Both histones and acidic chromosomal proteins increased, indicating that these 2 herbicides did not inhibit transcriptional activity of the V. faba genome.