Assessment of the mutagenic potential of pollutants in the Rivers Jaguari and Ribeirão Lavapés, Bragança Paulista, SP through the Allium test

• Grant number: 12/20097-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Agnes Barbério
• Grantee: Fernanda Junqueira Salles
• Host Institution: Instituto Básico de Biociências (IBB). Universidade de Taubaté (UNITAU). Taubaté , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The environmental impact caused by industrialization and urbanization has caused the contamination of water bodies through the launching of domestic sewage, improper disposition of industrial effluents, and poor agricultural practices, that launch pesticides in the rivers waters. The aim of this project is to assess the mutagenic potential in Allium cepa roots exposed to river water in the city of Bragança Paulista - SP in two seasons, rainy and dry; and also to correlate the results with physical-chemical data from CETESB in the same points and collection time. After the exposure of the bulbs, the roots will be cut, fixed in absolute ethanol-glacial acetic acid, preserved in alcohol 70% under refrigeration, and transferred to the Biology Laboratory of the Universidade de Taubaté. The root tip shall then be subject to Feulgen reaction: acid hydrolysis and immersion in the Schiff dye. The roots will be washed with sulfurous water and distilled to remove the dye. They will place on slides with acetic acid 45%, covered with cover glass, and crushed under slight pressure. The frequency of micronucleus, mitotic anomalies, and changes in the mitotic index will be verified. The mitotic anomalies observed will be stickiness, c-mitosis, fragment, and bridge chromosome, determined by the count of 300 mitotic cells per bulb (100/root), 900 per treatment. The mitotic index and micronucleus shall be assessed through the analysis of approximately 2.000 cells/root, 6.000/bulb, and 18.000 cells per treatment.(AU)