Mutagenicity testing of herbicides, fungicides and insecticides. I. Chromosome aberrations in Vicia faba.

The insecticides: summithion, lannate, carbicron, thiodan and kelthane, the fungicides: diathane M-45 and aladrin and the herbicides: ramrod, lasso, round up and grammoxone induce acute mitostatic effects of Vicia faba root meristematic cells. Pycnotic nuclei and premature chromosome condensation are also evident. Also carbicron, kelthane, lasso and ramrod induce anaphase bridges accompanied by relatively scarce micronuclei. The results suggest possible genetic damage by these chemicals.