Cytological Effects of Herbicides and Insecticides on Allium cepa Root Meristems

Abstract

Cytological effects of two herbicides viz., asulum and MSMA and two insecticides viz., chlorpyriphos and endosulfan were tested on Allium cepa root meristems. One hour pulse treatments were given with test solutions at different concentrations and allowed to different recovery periods in Hoagland's nutrient solution.
Among the test pesticides MSMA was observed to be the most effective clastogenic as well as turbagenic agent followed by endosulfan, chlorpyriphos and asulum respectively in that order.