![Sample our Environment & Agriculture journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5934/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Environment-Agriculture.jpg"})
Abstract
Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant metal, the third most common element in the earth crust and the main factor on limiting plant growth in most strongly acid soils. Harmful effects in plants have been attributed to aluminum. The objective of this study is to compare the effect of aluminum exposure on Allium cepa and Zea mays. The root growth of A. cepa and Z. mays has been evaluated before and after the aluminum exposure. A strong inhibition on root growth in higher concentrations of Al has been observed both for A. cepa and Z. mays. For cytogenetic analysis, slides have been prepared by the air drying technique with enzymatic maceration. Results showed reduction of mitotic index and an increase of different abnormalities as the aluminum concentration increased. We observed, bridges, breaks, sticky metaphases, nuclear dissolution, cell death and in some cells chromosome duplication. Chromosome bridges constitute an important variable analyzed in maize. A pronounced toxic effect is observed in concentrations above 10–5M. These effects are more evident in A. cepa. Cell death deserves special attention in analyzing cytotoxicity of the aluminum.
