Abstract

The present study was carried out to compare the mutagenic effects of the synthetic fungicide nimrod and the natural fungicide rhizo-N (produced by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis) on mitosis of Allium cepa cells. This study also concerned with the changes in seed protein profile after treatment with both pesticides using sodium dodecyl sulfate poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Different concentrations for each fungicide were applied for 3, 6, 24, and 48 h. The obtained results indicate that the two fungicides caused reduction in mitotic activity and induced different types of mitotic abnormalities such as C-metaphase, laggard chromosomes, bridges, stickiness, and disturbed phases as well as micronuclei and multinucleate interphase cells. These changes appeared in varying degree depending on the duration of treatment and concentration applied. The results showed that the synthetic fungicide nimrod have more mutagenic potentialities than the natural fungicide. At electrophoretic level, these fungicides induced alterations in the protein banding patterns of A. cepa seeds as compared with untreated samples.

Key words: Allium cepa, mitotic division, chrosomal abnormality, Bacillus subtilis, pesticides, sodium dodecyl sulfate poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).