Genotoxicity of Methyl Tert-butyl Ether (MTBE) to Vicia faba L. Plants

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the genotoxicity of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) to Vicia faba L. plants. Study Design: Experiments were carried out to determine the depressive effect in the mitotic process of Vicia faba L. when treated with different concentrations of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biotechnology and Biology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, between January 2011 and February 2011. Methodology: Vicia faba L. seeds were germinated in different concentrations of Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 10 and 15 %). For each concentration, five root tips were transferred to five microscope slides, stained with feulgen technique, covered with cover slip, squashed and observed microscopically. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by each concentration was compared with the value for the concomitant negative control using t-test. Results: The trend of the results showed that the higher the concentration of MTBE, the inhibitorier the effect on mitosis with more pronounced chromosomal aberrations. Types of abnormalities revealed the induction of spindle disturbance, stickiness, laggards, fragments, bridges and micronuclei which lead to the loss of genetic material. Conclusion: The induction of sticky chromosomes and micronuclei indicated that the Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether caused abnormal DNA condensation and inactivated the spindles. Because abnormalities of the cell division process results from the genotoxic effects of environmental chemicals, the Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether has the potential to cause aneuploidy in exposed organisms and adverse human health and environmental effects.