Cytogenetic effects of citric acid and benzoic acid on Allium chromosomes

The effects of the commonly used food additives citric acid (CA) and benzoic acid (BA) have been investigated on root tips of Allium sativum L. Allium and Allium anaphase-telophase tests were used as test systems. Roots of A. sativum were treated with 50, 100, 200 and 3000 mg/L concentrations of citric acid and, 50, 100, 200 and 500 mg/L concentrations of benzoic acid for 24h, 48h and 48+24h recovery. CA and BA significantly decreased the mitotic index (MI) at all concentrations compared with the negative controls in both 24 and 48h treatments. These compounds increased the frequency of mitotic and chromosomal aberrations in Allium sativum. These abnormalities were C-mitosis, stickiness, lagging chromosomes, fragments, bridges, scattered prophases, irregular metaphases and multipolar anaphases. Additionally, variations in the percentage of mitotic stages were observed. In the recovery treatment, neither CA nor BA reduced the frequency of aberrations in the root tips. However, MI increased to similar level of the negative control in most concentrations.