Cytological effects of pesticides. XI. Meiotic effects of the herbicides monochloroacetic and trichloroacetic acids.

Abstract

The effects of the herbicides monochloroacetic (MCA) and trichloroacetic (TCA) acids were studied on the meiosis and pollen viability of Vicia faba plants. The plants were sprayed at the seedling and flowering stages. The dose was 0.05 mg/ml. Both MCA and TCA affected a significant percentage of abnormal pollen mother cells/plant. The most dominant types of abnormalities were: lagging chromosomes, stickiness and fragmentation of the chromosomes, pentads at TII were observed after the treatments with TCA. Both agents showed a slight effect on pollen viability.