Vol.14, No 2, 2007 pp. 60 - 63
UC 579.67
CYTOGENETIC STUDIES OF FOOD PRESERVATIVE
IN ALLIUM CEPA ROOT MERISTEM CELLS
L. Palani Kumar, N. Panneerselvam
Research Centre and Post Graduate Studies in Botany, The Madura College,
Madurai, India
E-mail: npanneer1958@gmail.com
Summary. Cytogenetic effects of food preservative Potassium metabisulphite
have been tested on root tip cells of Allium cepa L. The root tips have
been treated with a series of concentrations, ranging from 25 to 150ľg/ml
for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 h. The results indicate that the food preservative
has reduced mitotic division in A. cepa compared with the respective control.
The percentage of Mitotic index has decreased with increasing dose and
time. Chromosomal abnormalities increase with increasing concentrations
of the test chemical and the longer period of treatment. We have found
that chromatid break and multiple breaks increase with dosage.
Key words: Food preservative,
potassium metabisulphite, Allium cepa, mitotic index, chromosomal abnormalities
