Cytological Studies On The Effect Of The Herbicide "Dual" On Allium Cepa

Abstract

Dual is widely used in Egypt as an active herbicide against annual grass weeds in soybean, sunflower, sugar beet and maize. Cytological studies have been carried out to show the effect of the herbicide on cell division in the meristematic cells. Roots tips of Allium cepa were treated with a series of concentrations, ranging from lOOOx 10-6 ml/ml to 50x 10 -" ml/ml for 4,12, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Dual induced a wide range of mitotic abnormalities. Their frequencies were found to depend on the concentration of the herbicide and duration of treatment. The most conspicuous effect in the metaphase was the formation of c-metaphase and non-congression. A number of abnormalities were found at both anaphase and telophase, where a large percentage of c-anaphase, unoriented chromosomes, lagging chromosomes and chromosome and chromatin bridges were induced. Dual showed an ability to induce chromosome breakage at both metaphase and anaphase. Micronuclei and multinucleate cells were seen at interphase cells. The present results indicate the hazardous effect of the herbicide "Dual" on the environment, especially on the hereditary machinery of plants.