Cytological effects of pesticides

Abstract

The effects of o-nitrophenol, p-nitrophenol, p-chlorophenol, 2, 4-dichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol, α-naphthol, β-naphthol, and 2, 4-dichloronaphthol were studied on root mitosis of Vicia faba. o-Nitrophenol, p-nitrophenol and α-naphthol simulated colchicine in its effect on the mitotic stages, so they caused accumulation of the metaphase stage on the expense of the anatelophase stage. The effect of phenols on the percentage of anomalies induced in the mitotic stages, as well as, their effect on the mitotic indices of Vicia faba were found to be proportional to concentration. All the phenols tested affected a considerable decrease in the mitotic index when compared with the control. The induced types of anomalies were: disturbed type (disturbed metaphases, prophase-metaphases and disturbed ana-telophases) ; lagging chromosomes ; stickiness ; fragmentation ; and cytomixis. © 1969, Japan Mendel Society, International Society of Cytology. All rights reserved.