Genotoxic Effects of Carbendezim (fungicide) on the Root Apicalmeristems of Allium cepa L.

Higher plants are recognized as excellent genetic models to detect environmental mutagens, and are therefore, frequently used in monitoring studies. The genotoxic potential of carbendezim (fungicide) was investigated by using chromosome aberration in Allium cepa L. ischolar_main tip cells. In this study, the effects of Carbendezim, a systemic fungicide were investigated in the mitotic cell division in onion (Allium cepa L.) ischolar_main tip cells during germination. Allium cepa L. ischolar_mains were treated with 1g/L, 2g/L and 3g/L concentrations of Carbendezim and distilled water as control at 6 hours, 12 hours and 18 hours duration. All the concentrations used, caused several abnormalities in mitotic cell divisions and the Mitotic Index in the onion ischolar_main tip cells decreased when the concentrations of Carbendezim solution is increased.The total percentage of aberrations generally increased in a dose and time dependent manner.