The Cytogenetic Effects of Sodium Metabisulfite, a Food Preservative in Root Tip Cells of Allium cepa L.

Authors: EYYÜP RENCÜZOĞULLARI, AHMET KAYRALDIZ, HASAN BASRİ İLA, TONGUZ ÇAKMAK, MEHMET TOPAKTAŞ

Abstract: The effects of sodium metabisulfite (SMB) on mitosis were investigated in Allium cepa L. The roots of A. cepa were treated with SMB concentrations of 7.5 mg/lt, 15 mg/lt and 30 mg/lt for 10- and 20-hour treatment periods. SMB significantly decreased the mitotic index (MI) at all concentrations and treatment periods. While the decreasing of the MI was dose-dependent at 10 hours treatment time, SMB increased the mitotic abnormalities dose dependently.

Keywords: Allium cepa, Sodium Metabisulfite, Mitosis, Food Preservative

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