Clastogenecity evaluation of water of Lake Sevan (Armenia) using Tradescantia micronucleus assay

The clastogenic effects of water samples in seven locations of Lake Sevan (Armenia) with the application of Trad-MCN (micronuclei) bioassay using Tradescantia (clone 02) were investigated. A significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei in tetrads of pollen microspores and tetrads with micronuclei exposed to the test samples compared to the control has been revealed. A multivariate analysis indicated linkage between the frequencies of occurrence of micronuclei in the cells and Ni and Co ions. The results were compared with the endpoints of another Tradescantia-based test system (stamen hair mutation test) performed on the same water samples and generation of the plant: occurrences of micronuclei in sporogenic cells coincided with that of non-surviving stamen hair. •We tested clastogenecity of the water of a natural lake using Tradescantia assay.•Clastogenic effects in pollen microspores might be linked to Co and Ni ions.•A comparison was made with the results of another Tradescantia-based test.•Occurrence of micronuclei in microspores coincided with that of dwarf stamen hair.