Investigation of physiological, anatomical and cytogenetic changes caused by diethyl phtalat in Allium cepa L.

In this study, possible toxic effects of Diethyl phthalate were investigated by means of physiological, anatomical and cytogenetic parameters in Allium cepa L. root cells, besides lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme levels were also examined. The levels of germination, root length, weight gain, micronucleus (MN), mitotic index (MI), chromosomal abnormalities, anatomical damage, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were used as markers of toxicity. The bulbs are divided into four (4) groups, one (1) control and three (3) application groups. The bulbs in the control group were treated with tap water and the bulbs in the treatment groups were treated with doses of 1.0, 2.2, 4.4 μM of Diethyl phthalate for 72 hours. As a result, it was determined that germination percentage, root length and weight gain decreased, MN and chromosomal damage numbers, MDA, SOD and CAT levels increased in Diethyl phthalate treated groups when compared with control group. In addition, these increases and decreases were statistically significant (P <0.05). As a result of the microscopic studies, it has been observed that Diethyl phthalate application promotes chromosomal damage in the root cells of C-mitosis, fragment, chromosome bridge, binuclear cell, abnormal polarization, sticky chromosome and unequal distribution of chromatin. On the other hand, Diethyl phthalate causes damage to the root tip meristematic cells of A. cepa as nontransmissive tissue, cortex cell deformation, thickening of the cortex cell wall, accumulation of certain substances in epidermis cells, flattened cell nuclei, necrosis and deformation in epidermis cells. As a result, it has been determined that Diethyl phthalate is toxic at certain dose levels and A. cepa test material is a useful indicator in determining these effects.