Effect of Endophytic Fungal Extract of Dregea volubilis (L.F.) Benth. on Dividing Cells of Allium sativum: A Case Study from Telangana State, India

Abstract

In this study, we looked at the mitotic cell divisions in dividing root tip cells of Allium sativum to see whether crude extracts of three endophytic fungal species may be mutagenic. Observations were made about the following. The mitotic index (MI) and other abnormalities were both significantly impacted by crude Penicillium rubrum extracts. As the treatment time and concentration of the crude extract increased, MI dropped. These extracts induced different types of abnormalities. Among this extreme fragmentation in metaphase was found to be more common. Fragmentation of chromosomes was also a common aberration in telophase. Crude extracts of Phyllosticta capitalensis have also exhibited a significant effect on MI and mitotic aberrations. Three types of aberrations, viz, stickiness, breakages and extreme fragmentations, were recorded in metaphase. The fragmentation type of aberrations was noticed during telophase. The total percentage of abnormalities increased up to nearly 30% of the crude extract concentration. Crude extracts of Phyllosticta fallopiae have also shown a significant effect on MI and chromosomal aberrations. In this case, metaphase stickiness, breakages and extreme fragmentation-type aberrations were observed. Fragmentation and laggards were recorded during anaphase. A comparison between the effects of extracts of three endophytic fungi revealed that there is a slight difference, however, not significant, in inducing the abnormalities. All of them induced almost the same type of abnormalities. There is also not much difference with MI.