Evaluation of the cytogenotoxic activity of mercury by analyzing chromosomal aberrations in wheat root meristem cells

The work evaluates the cytogenotoxic effect of mercury by performing a primary screening on a plant object. The authors determined the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of a cytogenotoxic effect depending on the exposure time and the dose of mercury nitrate (Hg (NO₃)₂) in anaphase and telophase of mitosis on wheat apical meristem cells of the Memory of Aziev variety. In the process of primary screening to assess the cytogenotoxic effect of the test substance, the nature and diversity of chromosomal abnormalities in the wheat meristem cells of the presented variety were studied. The frequency of occurrence of various types of chromosomal aberrations was analyzed. The complex shows the effect of mercury salts on viability indices and chromosomal instability of wheat. The cumulative pathology curves for different exposures of (Hg (NO₃)₂) are presented. A significant increase in the number of pathologies was shown in accordance with the increase in mercury concentration in anaphase of mitosis. A similar pattern was observed in the change in the total number of chromosome aberrations in accordance with the increase in the soaking time of seed material. The results of the study of the cytogenotoxic activity of mercury make it possible to assess the toxicity of mercury (Hg (NO₃)₂) for plant objects and recommend the object used in the experiment as an adequate model of test systems for studying xenobiotics.