Cytotoxic action of lead nitrate on cytomorphology of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Authors: SANA CHOUDHARY, MOHAMMAD YUNUS KHALIL ANSARI, ZEBA KHAN, HONEY GUPTA

Abstract: The present experiment was undertaken to determine the mutagenic potential of lead on the cytomorphology of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. and to determine the maximum concentration of lead nitrate that induces maximum genetic variability. The seeds were treated with 6 different concentrations (10, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 ppm) of lead nitrate. The higher concentrations of lead nitrate significantly reduced plant height, number of branches per plant, pollen fertility, and yield; higher concentrations also caused variation in the plants at the seedling and mature stages. In addition, concentrations affected the pairing of homologous chromosomes and spindle formation. This resulted in laggards, bridges, fragments, multipolar orientation of chromosomes, and reduced chiasmata frequency. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that lower concentrations of metal did not significantly affect the cytomorphology of Trigonella, while higher concentrations of lead nitrate were found to be more mutagenic and cytotoxic.

Keywords: Cytotoxicity, Trigonella foenum-graecum, lead nitrate

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