MORPHOLOGICAL AND SOMATIC CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS INDUCED BY PESTICIDES IN BARLEY (HORDEUM VULGARE)

Abstract

A cytological study carried out on root tips of the C1 and C2 generation barley (Hordeum valgare) seedlings after treating seeds (Co generation) with one of 15 pesticides (herbicides: Alanap-3, Atrazine, Banvel D, Cytrol, Embutox E, Hyvar X, Lorox, Monuron, Simazine; insecticides: Endrin, Phos-phamidon, Sevin; insect chemosterilants: ENT-50612, Metepa; fungicide: Botran) indicated that all of the pesticides were highly effective in inducing chromosome aberrations in the C1 generation. The percentage of affected cells ranged from 2.9% to 17.7%. Treatments with Metepa (17.72%), ENT-50612 (10.44%) and Monuron (9.62%) exceeded the frequency of chromosome aberrations (9.15%) found in root tip cells from X-rayed seeds (5,500 R ) used for comparative purposes. Chromosome abberations were found in over half of the different treatments of the C2 generation. The highest percentage was found after treatment with Sevin (1.79%), but it was lower than that found in root tip cells of C2 seedlings derived from the irradiated seeds (2.48%). Banvel D and Lorox strongly inhibited seed germination with a concentration of 1000 ppm and at, or exceeding, a 12-hr, treatment period. Banvel D, Cytrol, and Sevin severely affected seedling root growth. Banvel D, Cytrol and Metepa inhibited mitosis at a concentration of 500 ppm and a 6-hr, treatment. A number of C2 "mutant" seedlings were found which included albino and yellow seedlings, dwarfs, striped and narrow thick-leaved seedlings. The data clearly showed the pesticides to be effective radiomimetic agents.