Karyotype and RAPD Analysis of Ipomoea aquatica Samples Collected from Different Industrial Effluent Affected Areas

Abstract

Plant samples of Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. commonly growing in and around the industrial effluent affected areas were selected to examine the effect of industrial effluents at the chromosomal and DNA levels. Five different industrial areas such as (i) textile, (ii) pesticide, (iii) tannery, (iv) ceramic, and (v) pharmaceutical were selected for this study. We observed 2n=30 chromosomes in all plant samples of Ipomoea aquatica collected from different affected areas similar to control specimens. After comparison with control, the fluorescent karyotypes (CMA and DAPI) showed significant differences among the samples. Fluorescent banding revealed the probable genomic alteration by deletion and tandem duplication. The different plant samples of this species had characteristic RAPD finger printing. Missing DNA fragments in some sample plants (which is present in control plants) may correlate to the deletion of chromosomal parts. Similarly, some new fragments in the samples (which were not found in the control) may correspond to tandem duplication of the chromosomal parts. Therefore, the toxic substances present in the industrial effluents affected the chromosomes and DNA of Ipomoea aquatic grown in and around the above industrial areas.