Cytological Effects of Pesticides: XVII. Effect of the insecticide dichlorvos on root-mitosis of Vicia faba

The effect of the pure insecticide dichlorvos has been studied on root-mitosis of Vicia faba plant (var. Giza 2). The roots were treated with 250, 125, 63 and 32 ppm of the insecticide for four hours. Dichiorvos treatments induced cells with chromosome abnormalities, which increased in number as the concentration of the insecticide increased. Disturbed meta- and anaphases where the chromosomes spread irregularly over the cell com-prised the main type of the observed abnormalities. Stickiness of the chromosomes anaphase-bridges, micro- and binucleated interphase cells were also observed. The effects of the insecticides dichlorvos and trichlorfon on root-mitosis of Vicia faba are discussed.