Cytotoxicity of Glyphosate to Onion Root Cell (Allium cepa var. cepa L.)

Abstract

The effects of glyphosate in Allium cepa var. cepa L. (onion) using Anaphase – Telophase Chromosome Aberration Assay were studied at the Rajamangkala lnstitute Nakornsrithammarat Campus, Department of General Education, Thung Song district Nakhon Si Thammarat province. There were 2 experiments, the exploratory testing using glyphosate concentrations at 0.3 and 0.6 ppm and the full scale test using glyphosate concentrations at 0.1 and 0.2 ppm. Onions were treated for 72 hours, after which the mitotic index and chromosome aberrations were examined in the root tips. The resulted showed that glyphosate compound did not affect the chromosome aberration in exploratory test but it did show an effect in the full scale test. Chromosome structure aberrations (chromosome bridge, micro- nucleus and broken spindle fiber) were induced at 0.1 ppm. The mitotic index was changed and a different control was used for both experiments. This study indicated that glyphosate were more affected in mitotic index than the chromosome aberration. Therefore, conclusion was made from the experiment that glyphosate should be used carefully and the plant should not directly touch.