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Structural alterations inEuglena gracilis exposed to the herbicide isopropyl-N-phenylcarbamate (IPC)

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Summary

Ultrastructural abnormalities of various kinds and severity appeared inEuglena gracilis green cells after a 48-hour exposure to 4 × 10−4M of isoprophyl-N-phenylcarbamate (IPC), a widely used herbicide thought to affect microtubules and/or microtubule organizing centers in susceptible plant and animal species.

A high proportion of cells contained nuclei in the G 2 phase of the cycle; in a significant percentage of organisms, however, structural aberrations of the nucleolus and chromosomes were evident. The pellicle outline, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and dictyosomes were also affected. The cytoplasm was rich in dense bodies which sometimes showed granular, fibrillar or tubular materials. Furthermore IPC partially inhibited flagellum regeneration after mechanical amputation.

The mechanism by which IPC causes these responses remains unclear. Nevertheless, some indications suggest that the herbicide acts primarily on microtubule organizing centers. However, mitochondria, chloroplasts and nuclear constituents appear as possible additional targets of the compound.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Botany, University of Ferrara, Corso Porta Mare 2, I-44100, Ferrara, Italy

    G. L. Vannini, Donatella Mares & G. Dall'Olio

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  1. G. L. Vannini
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  2. Donatella Mares
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  3. G. Dall'Olio
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The study was supported by a grant from Italian Research Council (CNR), contract No. 80.00420.04.

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Vannini, G.L., Mares, D. & Dall'Olio, G. Structural alterations inEuglena gracilis exposed to the herbicide isopropyl-N-phenylcarbamate (IPC). Protoplasma 111, 189–194 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01281966

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01281966

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