The Chromosome-Breaking Effect of Coumarin Derivatives in the<i>Allium</i>Test

Abstract

SUMMARYThe authors have studied the chromosome-breaking effect of coumarin and 5 of its derivatives in the cytological test Allium. All 6 compounds have been found able to induce chromosome breakage during both the « physiological » and the « structural » effect. The configuration predominating during the physiological effect (action of the compounds on mitotic chromosomes) is the pseudochiasma, the origin of which is ascribed to sub-chromatid breakage (AVANZI 1950). Chromosome aberrations of various types, due to breakage and reunion in unsplit chromosomes in resting nuclei, are easily observed in « recovery » experiments following treatment with « mutagenic » concentrations of all 6 coumarins investigated.