Relative genotoxic effects of cypermethrin, alphamethrin and fenvalerate on the root meristems of Allium cepa

Abstract

The present investigation deals with the effects of 3 synthetic pyrethroid insecticides viz., Cypermethrin, Alphamethrin and Fenvalerate on the mitotic activity and mitotic chromosomes in the root meristems of Allium cepa. Root meristems were exposed to 4 different concentrations of each test compound for 1 h pulse treatment and allowed to different recovery periods. Cytological analyses revealed that the test compounds elicited varying degrees of cytotoxic, turbagenic (toxicity to spindle) and clastogenic effects. In the ultimate analysis, Cypermethrin and Alphamethrin have more turbagenic and weak clastogenic activity whereas Fenvalerate has relatively strong clastogenic activity in vitro. © 2005 The Japan Mendel Society.