Diclofop-methyl (DM) is a chlorophenoxy derivative used in large quantities for the control of annual grasses in grain and vegetable crops. In this study, the genotoxic effects of DM were investigated by measuring chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in mouse bone-marrow cells and CA and the comet assay in human peripheral lymphocytes. Mice were treated with 15.63, 31.25, 62.5, and 125 mg/kg body weight of DM intraperitoneally for 24 hours, and 15.63-, 31.25-, 62.5-, 125-, and 250-µg/mL concentrations were applied to human lymphocytes for both 24 and 48 hours. In in vivo treatments, DM significantly, but not dose dependently, increased the total chromosome aberrations, compared to both negative and solvent controls. Cell proliferation was significantly, but not dose dependently, affected by all doses. In in vitro treatments, DM (except 15.63 µg/mL) significantly and dose dependently increased the frequency of chromosome aberrations. Also, 250 µg/mL of 48-hour treatment was found to be toxic. Cell proliferation was significantly and dose dependently affected by DM applications, when compared to negative control. In in vitro treatments, DM significantly decreased the mitotic index only at the highest concentration for 24 hours, and 62.5- and 125-µg/mL concentrations for 48 hours. In the comet assay, a significant and dose-dependent increase in comet-tail intensity was observed at 62.5-, 125-, and 250-µg/mL concentrations. The mean comet-tail length was significantly increased in all concentrations. Our results demonstrate that DM is genotoxic in mammalian cells in vivo and in vitro.

Silene bolanthoides Quézel, Contandr. & Pamukç. is an endemic species from Kazdagi (Mt. Ida), Canakkale-Balikesir, Turkey. In order to develop an efficient shoot regeneration protocol, the leaf, nodal and internodal explants of S. bolanthoides were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing benzyladenine (BA) alone or in combination with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The highest number of regenerated shoots (5.75±0.1) was obtained from nodal explants that were cultured on MS medium with 8.8 µM BA+0.54 µM NAA. Regenerated shoots were rooted on MS medium without plant growth regulators (PGRs). Rooted plants (2-3 cm) were separately transferred to pots containing a mixture of peat and perlite (3:1 v/v) and acclimatized successfully in a growth chamber. Genetic stability of the propagated plants was assessed by flow cytometry and cytological analysis. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that regenerated plants had 2.61±0.01 pg nuclear DNA (2C) and seed-derived plants had on average 2.58±0.02 pg/2C. Cytological analysis showed that the regenerated plants had the same chromosome number as seed-derived plants of S. bolanthoides (2n=24). It was determined that regenerated plants were uniform in chromosome number and had a similar DNA content to the seed-derived ones, indicating that the described efficient shoot regeneration protocol can be applied for ex situ conservation of this species.

This research was to evaluate the effects of dodine on the physiology of Vicia faba L. through total protein content and peroxidase (POX) activity. According to this, four weeks old seedlings were treated with 0.04 mL/L, 0.08 mL/L and 0.16 mL/L concentrations of dodine. Then, the leaves of plant samples were harvested with 24, 48 and 72 hours intervals. Our results have showed that while the total protein content were decreased significantly, POX activity was increased with the increased concentration of dodine and exposure time when compared with control seedlings. This research have shown that dodine can stimulate the plant defense system.