Studies on the toxic effect of Cypermethrin on the Meristem of Allium Cepa L.

Vasudhevan and Christo Queensly

Cypermethrin | Allium cepa

Vol: 9; Iss:5; May 23 | ISSN: 2454-5422

Plants are direct recipients of agro-toxic and therefore important materials for assessing environmental chemicals for genotoxicity. Pesticides possess biological activity including genotoxic influence and can affect non-target organisms. The cyto and genotoxicological potency of cypermethrin pesticide was screened using Allium cepa L test. Onion bulbs were exposed to 96hrs for five concentrations (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 and 0.05mg/l) of cypermethrin. A dose dependent reduction in Allium cepa root length was observed for the exposure of cypermethrin. Microscopic observations observed in the pesticides treated onions include sticky chromosomes, disturbed spindle and chromosome bridges. Dose dependent reduction was observed in the total mitotic dividing cells and mitotic index of the treated onions. The pesticides induced growth inhibition and caused cytogenotoxic effect on the meristamatic cells of Allium cepa. The data here in provide more information on the pesticide of which exposure to substantial concentration might constitute health risk to non-target organisms.