Abstract
Effects of heavy metals are very extreme on biological organisms. Pollution causes accumulation of metals in soil which adversely affects the yield attributes of the crop plants. Cuminum cyminum L., (Cumin) is a major spice growing crop of India. The present study has been focused to scrutinize the cytogenetic effects of Chromium (Cr), Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) on root meristems of Cuminum cyminum L. During experiment, germinated seeds of cumin were exposed to four different concentrations viz., 50ppm, 100ppm, 150ppm and 200ppm of metallic salts of Chromium (Cr2O3), Cadmium(CdCl2) and Lead [Pb(NO3)2], respectively. The AMI% (Active Mitotic Index) was observed to show a sharp decline whereas TAB% (Total abnormality percentage) was elevated with increasing metal concentrations. Various Chromosomal aberrations were recorded viz., scattering, stickiness, precocious movement, laggards, bridges, c-metaphase, etc. Among the various types of chromosomal aberrations encountered, stickiness was dominant among all. On comparison Pb was found to be more genotoxic followed by Cd and Cr, respectively.
