Combined genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of cadmium chloride and carbofuran in root meristems of viciafaba

Abstract EN

The present study was carried out to investigate the combined geotaxis and cytotoxic effects of cadmium chloride and carbofuran in root meristems of Vicia faba.

Root tips were treated with three different concentrations of cadmium chloride (0.005%, 0.01% and 0.02%) and carbofuran (1%, 2% and 4%) in three different ways.

Roots were exposed to each concentration of the two compounds, alternatively and simultaneously for different exposure times.

Most of the treatments induced a significant decrease in the mitotic index, they also altered the percentage of mitotic phases, and increased the rate of chromosomal aberrations such as micronuclei, breaks, fragments, polyploidy, and binucleate cells, as compared with the control.

The combined action of cadmium chloride and carbofuran, as compared with the single mutagenic effect of each compound, led to antagonistic geotaxis and cytotoxic effects.