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Screening of cytotoxic and genotoxic potency of two pesticides (malathion and cypermethrin) on Allium cepa L.

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Abstract

Background

Malathion (organophosphate) and cypermethrin (pyrethroid) are widely in use to facilitate protection of major food crops in agriculture, due to which it is important to understand their toxic potential. Allium cepa L. has been considered as a reliable genetic model to detect the toxicity of all sorts of pollutants.

Objective

The objective of the present work is to determine the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of two widely used pesticides (malathion and cypermethrin) using A. cepa assay. Allium root growth inhibition test showed 0.5% concentration as the EC50 value in both the pesticides. In the toxicity experiment, 1/10 × EC50; 1/5 × EC50; EC50; 2 × EC50 and 3 × EC50 concentrations of both the pesticides along with a control were employed in Allium assay.

Results

Cytotoxic study showed mitotic index decreased with increasing the pesticides concentrations and exposure time. A series of mitotoxicity was observed under the influence of malathon and cypermethrin. Most types of chromosome aberrations observed in high percentage were stickiness, disturbance, c-metaphase, chromosome bridges in anaphase, lagging chromosome, and binucleate lesions. It was observed that malathion and cypermethrin are highly genotoxic to the onion, causing aberration at different phases of mitosis which can arrest cellular growth and may lead to senescence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present results showed that malathion and cypermethrin can get absorbed in the exposed plant parts or other non-target organisms in the vicinity, and may adversely affect their genomes, thus cause significant harm to crop plants and the environment as well.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), India, for providing research facilities. The authors received no specific funds for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Ri‐Bhoi, Meghalaya, 793101, India

    Nilofer Sheikh, Himangshu Patowary & Rafiul Amin Laskar

  2. Department of Botany, Biswanath College, Biswanath, Assam, 784176, India

    Nilofer Sheikh

  3. Department of Botany, Bahona College, Jorhat, Assam, 785101, India

    Rafiul Amin Laskar

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  1. Nilofer Sheikh
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  2. Himangshu Patowary
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  3. Rafiul Amin Laskar
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Contributions

NS and HP: contributed to design and performance the experiments, and analysis and interpretation of observations and data; RAL: contributed to the conception, drafting and revision of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Rafiul Amin Laskar.

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Sheikh, N., Patowary, H. & Laskar, R.A. Screening of cytotoxic and genotoxic potency of two pesticides (malathion and cypermethrin) on Allium cepa L.. Mol. Cell. Toxicol. 16, 291–299 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13273-020-00077-7

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