Cytogenetical and Physiological Effects of β-alanine Treatment in Alleviation of Salt-Induced Stress in Allium cepa L.

Abstract

In this study, β-alanine effects on the seedling growth (radicle number, radicle length and fresh weight), seed germination, chromosomal aberrations, mitotic activity and micronucleus frequency in Allium cepa L. germinated in both salt stress and normal conditions investigated. In only β-alanine medium, the fresh weight, radicle number and radicle length of the seeds partially reduced compared to the control seeds germinated in distilled water medium but the germination percentage indicate statistically the same value ​​as the control. Besides, while the micronucleus formation and mitotic index in root tip meristems of A. cepa seeds germinated in alone β-alanine medium showed the same values as the control seeds germinated in distilled water medium, the chromosomal abnormalities exhibited an increase compared to the control. On the other hand, salt stress significantly inhibited the seedling growth and seed germination of A. cepa. What’s more, it majorly reduced the mitotic index in meristem cells of the seeds and increased the number of chromosomal abnormalities and micronuclei formation, which is the simplest indicator and the most effective of cytological damage. Althought the harmful affects of saltness on the chromosomal aberrations, seed germination, seedling growth and mitotic activity alleviated in varying degrees by β-alanine treatment, this application was inefficient in damage reducing of salt on the micronucleus formation.