Abstract

In this study, two organic insecticides (Kingbo and Azdar 10EC) extracted from plants and used as agricultural pesticides were investigated for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects using root tips of Allium cepa assay. Three different concentrations (0.625, 1.62 mL.L^-1 and 2.5 mL.L^-1) were used for different periods of time (8, 16 and 24 h). A single treatment of the effects of the two organic insecticides was used. The tested concentrations decreased the mitotic index compared to the control; 0.625 mL.L^-1 of Kingbo treatment was statistically significant, while that of 1.62 mL.L^-1 for 16 h and 2.5 mL.L^-1 for 8 and 16 h increase the mitotic index. This increase was significant. Single treatment of Azdar 10EC decreased the mitotic index and its effect was non-significant compared to the control, while 2.5 mL.L^-1 treatment for 24 h increased the mitotic index and was statistically significant. In addition, the different treatments caused diverse types of chromosome abnormalites during metaphase, anaphase and telophase stages, and they were statistically significant after treating with 0.625 and 1.62 mL.L^-1 Kingbo for 8 and 16 h and 0.625 mL.L^-1 Azdar 10 EC for 8 h. The chromosomes abnormalites were stickiness, disturbance, c-metaphase, c-anaphase, stare metaphase, chromosome bridges in anaphase and telophase, lagging chromosome and micronuclei appearing in interphase cells. The result indicates that both organic insecticides had cytotoxic and genotoxic activities on mitotic index and chromosomal aberration.

Key words: Organic insecticides, mitotic chromosomes, root tips, Allium cepa.