Inducción de micronúcleos en células meristemáticas de la raíz de Vicia faba tratadas con diferentes concentraciones de Marvel

The use of pesticides has been increasing over time. Despite the benefits provided by agrochemicals in agriculture as well as in domestic uses, many of them may pose potential health and environmental hazards. There is now increasing interest in the determination of biomarkers that allow the measurement and estimation of an active and / or passive exposure to environmental pollutants with toxic capacity, such as pesticides. This study analyzes the DNA damage caused by Marvel® a commercial herbicide through the micronucleus (MN) assay, in meristematic cells of the root of Vicia faba . Roots between 2-3 cm were exposed for 4 hours with 18 and 44 hours of recovery time at different concentrations of Marvel®, equivalent to the following combinations of atrazine / dicamba: 62.5 / 31.25; 125 / 62.5; 250/125; 1000/500; 2000/1000; 3000/1500 and 4000/2000, mg of active ingredient / L of distilled water. Cells were exposed to distilled water as a negative control and potassium dichromate (0.05%) as a positive control under the same experimental conditions. With the exception of the lowest concentration [62.5 / 31.25 mg of active ingredient / L of distilled water], all concentrations tested showed significant damage (p < 0.05), with respect to the negative control, the damage was greater at 18 hours of recovery, and at 44 hours the damage was decreased at all concentrations tested. The mitotic index (MI) also was affected showing a smaller division depending on concentration and recovery times. The concentrations of 2000/1000; 3000/1500 and 4000/2000, mg of active ingredient / L of distilled water produced greater damage than that found in the positive control. This leads to the conclusion that the commercial herbicide Marvel® causes DNA damage and is cytotoxic in Vicia faba .