EVALUATION OF GENOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ODIUM SULPHITE, POTASSIUM SULPHITE AND CALCIUM SULPHITE ON THE ROOT MERISTEM CELLS OF Allium cepa

Abstract

The effects of different treatments with food preservatives sodium sulphite (SS), potassium sulphite (PS) and calcium sulphite (CS) on the cytology, DNA content and interphase nuclear volume (INV) of A. cepa were investigated. Four concentrations of these additives (50, 100, 150, and 200 ppm) were applied for 24, 48, and 72 h. All concentrations of these chemicals showed an inhibitory effect on cell division in root tips of A. cepa and caused a decrease in mitotic index values. Additionally, all treatments changed the frequency of mitotic phases as compared with the control groups. These compounds increased chromosome abnormalities, among them c-mitosis, micronuclei, anaphase bridges, laggards, stickiness, vacuolated nuclei and unequal distributions. The nuclear DNA content and interphase nuclear volume (INV) decreased when compared with control groups.