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Toxicity of Difenoconazole and Tebuconazole in Allium cepa

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Abstract

Macroscopic (germination and root growth) and microscopic (mitotic index, chromosome, and nuclear aberrations) analyses have been used to determine the toxicity of environmental pollutants. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of mutation and their effects, molecular markers offer a key perspective, as they measure the direct effects of DNA mutagenic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic potential of the fungicides difenoconazole (DZ) and tebuconazole (TZ) on Allium cepa. A reduction was observed in the germination, root growth, and mitotic index at higher concentrations of DZ and TZ, compared to the negative control. In addition, high incidence of chromosome and nuclear aberrations was detected in treated roots. This demonstrates the genotoxic, cytotoxic, and phytotoxic effects of DZ and TZ on the root tips of A. cepa. Moreover, the molecular results indicate a change in the amplification profiles of the simple sequence repeats (SSR) and intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) obtained from A. cepa after exposure to the tested compounds. Loss and gain of bands increased dose-dependently. Further, the grouping methods distinguished the higher concentrations from the negative control. The ISSR and SSR analyses proved to be efficient tools for evaluating DNA alterations caused by DZ and TZ. In association with macroscopic and microscopic analyses, they constitute an informative approach for environmental mutagen studies.

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Abbreviations

DZ:

Difenoconazole

TZ:

Tebuconazole

SSR:

Simple sequence repeat

ISSR:

Intersimple sequence repeat

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brasília, DF, Brazil), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Espírito Santo (FAPES, Vitória, ES, Brazil), and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brasília, DF, Brazil) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Centre for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo (Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo), 29.500-000, Alegre, ES, Brazil

    Paula Mauri Bernardes, Francielen Barroso Aragão & Marcia Flores da Silva Ferreira

  2. Department of Biology, Federal University of Lavras (Universidade Federal de Lavras), 37.200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil

    Larissa Fonseca Andrade-Vieira

  3. Department of Plant Production, Centre for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Espírito Santo (Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo), 29.500-000, Alegre, ES, Brazil

    Adésio Ferreira

  4. Programa de Pós–Graduação em Produção Vegetal–Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (CCA/UFES), 29.500-000, Alegre, ES, Brazil

    Paula Mauri Bernardes, Adésio Ferreira & Marcia Flores da Silva Ferreira

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  1. Paula Mauri Bernardes
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  2. Larissa Fonseca Andrade-Vieira
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Correspondence to Marcia Flores da Silva Ferreira.

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Bernardes, P.M., Andrade-Vieira, L.F., Aragão, F.B. et al. Toxicity of Difenoconazole and Tebuconazole in Allium cepa . Water Air Soil Pollut 226, 207 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2462-y

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