ABSTRACT
Effeet of lead on onion (Allium cepa L.) root growth.

Laura Ochoa M.1, Cecilia Leyton M.2, Jorge Sans P.2 e Inés Pepper B.3
 

The effeet of lead on Allium cepa L. root growth was studied. This work includes an analysis of its effeets on root longitudinal growth, on mitotic activity in the meristematic zone, on cellular elongation in the mature zone and on oxygen consumption in the root tip. Lead inhibits root growth in relation to dose in all studied concentrations including the maximal permmited concentration established by the National Normalization Institute of Chile (5 mg/L). Root growth inhibition would be principally due to an alteration on cell elongation as a oonsecuence of impaired cellular respiration.

Keywords: Allium cepa L., onion, heavy metals, proliferation, rool.
1 Instituto de Medicina Experimental, Hospital José Joaquin Aguirre, Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Chile, Casilla 70058, Correo 7, Santiago, Chile.
2 Departamento de BioIogía Celular y Genética, Facultad de Medicina, División Norte, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 70061, Correo 7, Santiago, Chile.
3 Departamento de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, División Norte, Universidad de Chile, Casilla 70058, Correo 7, Santiago, Chile.