International Journal of Modern Biological Research
ISSN: 2053-180X
Vol. 9(2), pp. 17-24, September 2021
doi.org/10.33500/ijmbr.2020.9.002

Cytogenetic effects of radon activity concentrations in water on meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. root

Jasmin Adrovic¹*, Izet Eminovic², Stojko Vidovic³ and Feriz Adrovic¹

¹Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
²Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
³Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: biolog@live.com.

Received 22 July, 2021; Received in revised form 10 August, 2021; Accepted 16 August, 2021.

Abstract

Keywords:
Allium test, Radon in water, Mitotic index, Phase index, Genotoxicity, Cytotoxicity.

In this study, the results of cytogenetic analysis of the influence of various radon activity concentrations in water on meristematic cells of Allium cepa L. are presented. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity test used in this study was the A. cepa test. To reliably consider the biological effects of ionizing radiation coming from radon, it is necessary to modify this test system, adjust the process of exposing the samples in accordance with the migration potential of radon gas. Evaluation of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of radon in water, various parameters of A. cepa L. were analyzed, such as root number, mitotic and phase indexes (MI and PI). All applied radon activity concentrations in water, ranging from 100.62 to 1,006.25 Bq/L, caused inhibition of root growth, reduction of mitotic index (MI), and a significant increase in the number of aberrant cells, in the treated meristematic cells of A. cepa L..