Comparative Genotoxic Potential of Mercury and Cadmium in Soybean

Abstract

Genotoxic effects of two heavy metals viz. mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) on somatic and gametic cells of soybean were investigated. Seeds were treated with different doses of these heavy metals. Treatments with Hg and Cd not only reduced the frequency of dividing cells but a wide spectrum of chromosomal abnormalities were also recorded. Pollen fertility was found to be significantly correlated with meiotic irregularities found in the metal treatment sets. It was found that both of these heavy metals are capable of inducing chromosomal aberrations, but Hg is much more genotoxic than Cd, since it induces greater abnormalities.