Genotoxicity Effect of Ethyl Methanesulfonate on Root Tip Cells of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Ethyl methanesulfonate is a synthetic compound widely used as a mutagen, teratogen and brain carcinogen and as a research chemical. While, the toxicity and carcinogenicity of ethyl methanesulfonate on humans and animals have been studied, less is known about its genotoxicity to plants. In this study, the genotoxic effects of ethyl methanesulfonate were investigated with growing chilli seedlings in solution culture. Compared with the control, the growth of chilli seedlings (taproot length, longest lateral root length and lateral roots number) decreased and showed statistics difference at ethyl methanesulfonate test concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mM. Stickiness, precocious movements, chromosomal bridge, micronucleus and others chromosomal aberrations were observed in chilli root tip cells were treated with various concentration of ethyl methanesulfonate. Frequency of chromosomal aberrations increased linearly with EMS test concentration between 10 and 50 mM and decreased above 50 mM which showed significant difference between control and 50 mM EMS or higher test concentration. Results of the present study suggest that ethyl methanesulfonate has genotoxicity on chilli root tip cells. The mechanism of genotoxicity of ethyl methanesulfonate needs further study. It is concluded that high doses of EMS are inhibit the growth of chilli morphological parameters strictly.