The Radio Sensitizing Effect of Metronidazole in Maize

Abstract

The identification of chemical substances which increase the efficiency of radiation is important to make easier the obtention of plants with structural chromosome aberrations which may be used in an alternative program for hybrid maize production. The present work was carried out to investigate the effect of the chemical substance metronidazole in maize seedlings submitted to gamma radiation. Several treatments were done, soaking the seeds in solutions with varied concentrations of the active substance combined with solution filtration and gamma radiation. On the third day of the experiment, germination percentage, root and stem lengths were evaluated. At a high concentration (1,250 mg/50 mL) metronidazole behaved as a radiosensibilizer in the presence of radiation. Even at a low concentration (250 mg/50 mL; 750 mg/50 mL) and in the absence of radiation, metronidazole behaved as toxic substance.<br>A identificação de substâncias químicas que aumentam a eficiência da radiação é importante para facilitar a obtenção de plantas portadoras de aberrações cromossômicas estruturais que possam ser usadas em um programa alternativo de produção de milho híbrido (Zea mays L.). Realizou-se o presente trabalho com o objetivo de investigar o efeito da substância química metronidazol na resposta de plântulas de milho à radiação gama. Diversos tratamentos foram feitos, embebendo as sementes em soluções com variadas concentrações da substância ativa, combinadas com filtragem e radiação gama. No terceiro dia do experimento, foram avaliados a porcentagem de germinação e os comprimentos das raízes e dos caules. Em alta concentração (1.250 mg/50 mL), o metronidazol, em presença de radiação, comportou-se como radiossensibilizador e, na sua ausência, como substância tóxica, mesmo em baixa concentração (250 mg/50 mL e 750 mg/50 mL)

Induction of maize chromosome altered plants by seeds irradiation pre-soaked in metronidazole

“…The results here obtained, ratify the first results reported by VICCINI et al (1997b), when they studied the radiosensitizing effect of metronidazole in field conditions, and constitute the first cytogenetical evidence of these effects. The use of lower radiation dosages together with higher concentrations of metronidazole constitute an efficient methodology to produce chromosomic altered plants without viability loss.…”

“…In addition, the literature has emphasized mainly the radiation dosage (SANTOS 1993;LATHA and NAIR 1999;IOSHIHIDE and ATSUO 1998), as well the presence of some chemical substances (VICCINI et al 1997b;PACINI et al 1999, PASUPATHY et al 2001.…”

“…Although it has been found in the literature reports about the radiosensitizing effect of metronidazole on external morphology and fertility (VICCINI et al 1997b), there have not been any studies evaluating chromosome damage.…”