Determination of Pesticide-Induced Genotoxicity on Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Abstract

Pesticides are used in agriculture and cause side effects in plants and can be transported to products which we consume. Genotoxic chemical substances distributed to environment and higher plants such as Glycine max have been used as an indicator plants that show the genotoxic effects of environmental chemical pollutants. In this respect we investigated the potential genotoxic effect of three different pesticides (Pomarsol Forte WP 80 as a fungucide, Arrivo 25 EC as an insecticide, and The End EC as an herbicide) on G. max (Glycine max L.) for the first time. In order to determine the genotoxic effects of these pesticides on G max. Median EC (effective concentration) determination analysis, RAPD-PCR (randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction) assay and protein analysis were used. Our results indicated that The End as a herbicide had more inhibitory effects on G. max root growth compare to the other pesticides. 20 RAPD primers were used, eighteen primers gave stable results while 11 of them were polymorphic and 7 of them showed the same band profile. Percentage of polymorphism was found as 20%. Total protein content was significantly decreased by insecticide treatment but increased in herbicide treatment (p<0.05). In conclusion these results suggest that these pesticides have genotoxic effects on G. max and the use of these chemicals must be reduced to avoid exposure to humans and the environment.