Comparative Cytological Effects of Colchicine, 8-Hydroxyquinoline, and Paradichlorobenzene on Mitotic Activity in Allium sativum Root Meristem Cells

Authors

  • Geethanjali R.
  • Manjula A C
  • Nalini T J
  • Prathibha K Y.
  • Apoorva
  • Nandini

Keywords:

Allium sativum, mitotic index, colchicine, 8-hydroxyquinoline, paradichlorobenzene, cytogenetics, chromosomal aberrations, metaphase arrest, spindle inhibitors, cell division

Abstract

Allium cepa, a widely used model organism in cytogenetic studies, is ideal for evaluating the effects of chemical agents on mitosis. Allium sativum (garlic), though known for its medicinal value, is less commonly used in such studies. This research focuses on the comparative effects of colchicine, 8-hydroxyquinoline, and paradichlorobenzene—three well-known mitotic inhibitors—on the root meristem cells of Allium sativum. Colchicine is a microtubule-disrupting alkaloid that causes metaphase arrest; 8-hydroxyquinoline acts as a chelating agent that interferes with spindle formation; paradichlorobenzene is an aromatic compound known to induce chromosomal abnormalities. Root tips of Allium sativum were treated with each chemical at standardized concentrations for specific durations, followed by fixation, staining, and microscopic analysis. The mitotic index, frequency of chromosomal aberrations, and phase-specific mitotic abnormalities were recorded and compared. Colchicine treatment led to a significant increase in metaphase frequency due to spindle inhibition, often resulting in c-metaphase configurations. 8-hydroxyquinoline exhibited a marked reduction in the mitotic index and induced metaphase arrest, along with chromosomal stickiness and clumping. Paradichlorobenzene exposure caused prominent chromosomal breaks and fragmentation, along with altered mitotic progression. The results demonstrate the differential impact of these chemicals on cell cycle progression, highlighting their effectiveness and mode of action as mitotic poisons. This study contributes to understanding their cytological effects and potential applications in plant cytogenetics and mutation breeding.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Gervais, J.; Luukinen, B.; Buhl, K.; Stone, D. 2010. Paradichlorobenzene General Fact Sheet; National Pesticide Information Center, Oregon State University Extension Services. npic.orst.edu/factsheets/PDBgen.html.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,4-Dichlorobenzene

Wu JH, Ferguson AR, Murray BG, Jia Y, Datson PM, Zhang J. Induced polyploidy dramatically increases the size and alters the shape of fruit in Actinidia chinensis. Ann Bot. 2012 Jan;109(1):169-79. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcr256. Epub 2011 Oct 6. PMID: 21980192; PMCID: PMC3241580.

S. S. Raghuvanshi & Sheila Joshi (1965) Studies on the Comparative Effects of Certain Chemicals on the Polyploidising Efficiency of Colchicine in Trigonella FoenumGraecum L., Caryologia, 18:1, 69-84, DOI: 10.1080/00087114.1965.10796156

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8-Hydroxyquinoline

Kumar, P., et al. (2012). "Induction of tetraploidy in Allium sativum using colchicine and its effects on bulb characteristics." Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 82(5), 489-495.

Li, Y., and Song, X. (2010). "Polyploidy induction in garlic (Allium sativum) using colchicine treatment." Plant Breeding, 129(6), 690-695.

Pereira, T. S., et al. (2006). "Induction of polyploidy in garlic (Allium sativum) using 8-hydroxyquinoline." Acta Horticulturae, 701, 123-128.

Kumar, S., et al. (2010). "Polyploidy induction in Allium sativum using 8-hydroxyquinoline and its impact on agronomic traits." Cytologia, 75(1), 35-42.

Mishra, P., et al. (2013). "Paradichlorobenzene-induced polyploidy in Allium sativum and its effects on bulb morphology." Plant Cell Reports, 32(8), 1141-1148.

Khurana, S., et al. (2014). "Induction of polyploidy in Allium sativum by paradichlorobenzene: A safer alternative to colchicine." Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, 87(2), 155-160.

Singh, R., and Gupta, R. P. (2011). "Effect of colchicine and 8-hydroxyquinoline combination in polyploidy induction in Allium sativum." Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 49(10), 741-746.

Saini, N., et al. (2017). "Polyploidy induction in Allium sativum using colchicine and paradichlorobenzene: A comparative study." Horticultural Science, 42(3), 215-220.

Chandra, R., et al. (2003). "Mechanisms of polyploidy induction in Allium sativum by mitotic inhibitors." Cytology and Genetics, 38(3), 175-181.

Sharma, P., et al. (2012). "Induction of polyploidy in garlic using mitotic inhibitors." International Journal of Plant Research, 50(4), 236-240.

Saran, S., et al. (2014). "Polyploidy induction in Allium sativum and its effect on growth and yield." Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 16(3), 223-229.

Patel, P., et al. (2018). "The effects of polyploidy on bulb characteristics and stress tolerance in Allium sativum." Plant Biotechnology Journal, 16(9), 1248-1255.

Raghunathan, S., et al. (2007). "Polyploid garlic: The impact of colchicine on garlic bulb characteristics and environmental stress adaptation."

Abdel-Salam, F. S., Hassan, N. H., & Abdel-Wahhab, M. A. (2012). Genotoxicity of some pesticides in mitotic cells of Vicia faba. Egyptian Journal of Genetics and Cytology, 41, 1–12.

Amer, S. M., & Farah, O. R. (1974). Cytological effects of pesticides. II. Cytological effects of some herbicides on Allium cepa. Cytologia, 39(3), 633–643.

Bonciu, E., Firbas, P., Fontanetti, C. S., Wusheng, J., Karaismailoğlu, M. C., Liu, D., ... & Papini, A. (2018). An evaluation for the standardization of the Allium cepa test as cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assay. Environmental and Experimental Biology, 16, 105–112.

Chauhan, L. K. S., & Sundararaman, V. (1990). Effect of substituted ureas on plant cells I. Induction of chromosomal aberrations in Allium cepa by isoproturon and chlorotoluron. Cytologia, 55(1), 91–98.

Fiskesjö, G. (1985). The Allium test as a standard in environmental monitoring. Hereditas, 102(1), 99–112.

Levan, A. (1938). The effect of colchicine on root mitoses in Allium. Hereditas, 24(4), 471–486.

Majewska, U., Wojcik, A., & Szyfter, K. (2003). Use of micronucleus assay in evaluation of genotoxic activity of environmental samples. Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, 538(1–2), 121–129.

Rank, J., & Nielsen, M. H. (1994). A comparative study of Allium cepa and mammalian cells in relation to genotoxicity testing. Science of the Total Environment, 148(1), 83–86.

Sharma, A. K., & Sharma, A. (1999). Plant chromosomes: Analysis, manipulation and engineering (3rd ed.). Enfield, NH: Science Publishers.

Sudhakar, R., Ahmed, K. B., & Sreenivasulu, N. (2001). Cytogenetic effect of hexavalent chromium on root tips of Allium cepa L. Current Science, 80(5), 567–572.

Yüzbaşioğlu, D., Ünal, F., & Celik, M. (2003). Cytogenetic effects of benzo[a]pyrene on Allium cepa root meristematic cells. Cytologia, 68(3), 245–251.

Downloads

Published

2025-05-21

How to Cite

1.
R. G, A C M, T J N, K Y. P, Apoorva A, Nandini N. Comparative Cytological Effects of Colchicine, 8-Hydroxyquinoline, and Paradichlorobenzene on Mitotic Activity in Allium sativum Root Meristem Cells. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025May21 [cited 2025Oct.1];14(26S):276-85. Available from: https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/6267

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 26S (2025): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

Terms:

  • Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.