Sensitivity of Bidens laevis L. to mutagenic compounds. Use of chromosomal

PÉREZ, DÉBORA JESABEL; LUKASZEWICZ, GERMÁN; CAMADRO, ELSA LUCILA; MENONE, MIRTA LUJÁN

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Año: 2011 vol. 159 p. 281 - 286

0269-7491

The wetland macrophyte Bidens laevis possesses suitable cytological characteristics for genotoxicitytesting. To test its sensitivity as compared to terrestrial plants species currently in use in standardizedassays, Methyl Methanesulfonate (MMS), N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) and Maleic Hydrazide (HM) wereused. On the other hand, the insecticide Endosulfan (ES) e an environmentally relevant contaminant ewas assayed in seeds and two-month old plants. Mitotic Index (MI), frequency of Chromosome Aberrationsin AnaphaseeTelophase (CAAT) and frequency of Abnormal Metaphases (AM) were analyzed.MH, MMS and ENU caused a significant decrease of the MI. MMS was aneugenic whereas MH and ENUwere both aneugenic and clastogenic. ES caused a significant concentration-dependent increase of totalandaneugenic-CAAT in roots and a significant high frequency of AM at high concentrations. Because ofits sensitivity to mutagenic substances, B. laevis can be regarded as a reliable and convenient species forgenotoxicity assays especially if aquatic contaminants are evaluated.