title: Response to copper bromide exposure in Vicia sativa L. seeds: analysis of genotoxicity, nucleolar activity and mineral profile.
abstract: Copper bromide (CuBr2) effects on seed germination and plantlet development of Vicia sativa L. are evaluated through mitotic index, chromosome aberrations, nucleolar activity and mineral profile. CuBr2 induces a significant presence of micronuclei, sticky and c-metaphases, anaphase bridges and chromosome breaks. Increased number of nucleoli and scattering of AgNOR proteins from the nucleolus in the nuclear surface at CuBr2 1mM and in the cytoplasm at CuBr2 5mM, goes along with the decrease of root growth. In V. sativa embryo the content of many macro and micronutrients increases up to copper 1mM in agreement with reserve mobilization while at CuBr2 5mM some elements are present in lower amount. We hypothesize that inhibitory effects observed at 5mM are due either to a nutrient shortage or to a direct influence of copper on root cell division, evidenced by low mitotic index, high occurrence of chromosome aberrations and loss of material from the nucleolus.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: lorenza.bellani@unisi.it.
authors.forename: Lorenza M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bellani
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università Siena, Via A. Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muccifora
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giorgetti
mesh_terms: D001965:Bromides / Q000633:toxicity*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004249:DNA Damage; D018525:Germination / Q000187:drug effects*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008940:Mitotic Index; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects; D033022:Vicia sativa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001965:Bromides; D008903:Minerals; C408079:cupric bromide; D003300:Copper
keywords: Copper; Genotoxicity; Mineral profile; Seed; Vicia sativa L.