How Pesticides Affect Plants Used to Monitor Environmental Health

Greg Howard
10th August, 2024

How Pesticides Affect Plants Used to Monitor Environmental Health

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander studied the effects of pesticides on bioindicator plants like onions, broad beans, peas, lettuce, and lentils
  • Pesticides caused cellular inhibition, nuclear anomalies, and micronuclei formation in these plants, indicating significant cytotoxic effects
  • The study highlights the need for careful evaluation and regulation of agrochemicals to mitigate their potential environmental impact
Agrochemicals, widely used to manage pests, have raised concerns due to their potential to harm ecosystems by contaminating surface and groundwater and affecting various organisms. The new study conducted by researchers at Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander[1] aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of pesticides on bioindicator plants. These plants serve as effective experimental models for detecting and monitoring the cytogenotoxicity of chemical substances. The study focused on several key bioindicator plants, including Allium cepa L (onion), Vicia faba L (broad bean), Pisum sativum L (pea), Lactuca sativa L (lettuce), and Lens culinaris Med (lentil). These plants have been used for many years due to their proven efficacy in identifying the harmful effects of various chemical substances, including pesticides. Agrochemicals can cause various cytogenetic alterations in plants. These include cellular inhibition, nuclear anomalies, and the formation of micronuclei—small nuclei that form when chromosomes or chromosomal fragments are not incorporated into the daughter nuclei during cell division. The study aimed to provide relevant data on these cytotoxic effects using the mentioned bioindicator plants. The research methodology involved exposing the plant roots to different concentrations of pesticides and observing the resulting cellular and genetic changes. The endpoints analyzed included root growth inhibition, mitotic index (a measure of cell division), chromosomal aberrations, and the presence of micronuclei. These endpoints are crucial for understanding the extent of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by the pesticides. The findings of this study align with earlier research on the cytotoxic effects of various chemical substances on plants. For instance, a study on the effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on wheat root tips demonstrated that these nanoparticles could readily enter the cells and interfere with their normal functions, causing various chromosomal aberrations[2]. Similarly, research on newly synthesized antifungal molecules using the Allium cepa assay showed that these compounds could induce significant toxic and genotoxic effects, despite their antifungal efficacy[3]. Moreover, the study on the effects of a tebuconazole-based fungicide on Lactuca sativa revealed that the fungicide could negatively impact root growth and induce DNA damage, highlighting the potential phytotoxic and genotoxic effects of such agrochemicals[4]. These earlier studies underscore the importance of using plant bioindicators to assess the cytogenotoxicity of chemical substances, as they provide valuable insights into the potential risks posed by these compounds. In conclusion, the study conducted by Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander contributes to the growing body of evidence on the cytotoxic effects of pesticides on plants. By utilizing well-established bioindicator plants, the researchers were able to detect and monitor the cytogenotoxicity of these substances effectively. These findings emphasize the need for careful evaluation and regulation of agrochemicals to mitigate their potential environmental impact.

EnvironmentBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Examining the interaction between pesticides and bioindicator plants: an in-depth analysis of their cytotoxicity.

Published 9th August, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34521-1

Related Studies

2) Genotoxicity effects of silver nanoparticles on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) root tip cells.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.02.069

3) Allium cepa tests: A plant-based tool for the early evaluation of toxicity and genotoxicity of newly synthetized antifungal molecules.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrgentox.2023.503654

4) Toxicogenetic of tebuconazole based fungicide through Lactuca sativa bioassays.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111985


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