Nickel2+ is a strong mitotic inhibitor of meristematic cells of Allium cepa root

ARRUNATEGUI-JIMENEZ, JOSÉ; WALTER BERON; BERTINI, FRANCISCO; LOPEZ, LUIS ALBERTO

BIOCELL

INST HISTOL EMBRIOL-CONICET

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 1999 vol. 23 p. 113 - 118

0327-9545

Onion roots were exposed to a Ni-containing medium in order to study the effect of NiC1, on meristem cells. One mM NiC4 completely blocked root growth. Interphase times of untreated and Ni-treated cells were similar, 9.0 hours and 8.50 hours respectively, whereas mitotic times were 2 hours for untreated cells and more than 10 hours for Ni-treated cells. Phase indices for Ni-treated cells were 10% in prophase, 85% in metaphase and 2% in anaphase, showing that most ceils were accumulating in metaphase. Metaphase chromosomes were supercontracted and mislocated in the equator of the cell. Thus, Ni(I1) is a strong mitotic inhibitor that generates chroinosome condensation and inhibits chrornosome segregation.