Effects of the High Doses of Urginea maritima (L.) Baker Extract on Chromosomes

Abstract

The effects of high doses of extracts of Urginea maritima bulbs which can be used as bio-pesticides were investigated with the Allium test method. The bulbs of Allium cepa were rooted in solutions including 8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, 16% and 100% (v/v) U. maritima extracts for 48,72 and 144 hours. Moreover, the bulbs were rooted in a solution including 2% of a chemical pesticide (Vydate (R)) and in tap water (as control). A. cepa root tip meristem cells were prepared according to Feulgen squash procedure and the chromosomal aberrations and cell anomalies were determined. The data were evaluated with statistical analyses. Chromosome aberrations occurring in all solutions including U. maritima extract and vydate solution were found to be significantly related to the increasing dose and period of the treatment. Moreover, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the mitotic index (MI) when compared to the control. It was found that even the high doses of U. maritima extract are less genotoxic and cytotoxic than vydate.